Regaining Paradise

towards a fossil fuel free society

T. Vijayendra

Publishing Collective
Cerana Foundation Sangatya Sahitya Bhandar Permanent Green Hyderabad Platform Sahitya Chayana Bal Sanskriti Kendra Shishu Milap

REGAINING PARADISE towards a fossil fuel free society Author: T. Vijayendra Year: 2009 Price: Rs. 20.00 Co!ies: 2000 " Co!y #e$t: All Rights Reversed Publishing Collective Cerana %oundation and &yderabad Plat$or' ( 0 ) &igh Rise A!art'ents) #o*er Tan+ ,und Road) &yderabad -00 0.0 /angatya /ahitya ,handar 0120 P) 3ayadurga Co'!ound) Te'!le Road) 4annar!ady) 5du!i -02 06) 4arnata+a Per'anent 7reen) an i'!rint o$ 8anchi Pusta+a' C9o :assan) 21 61;-0) /treet <o. ) Tarna+a) /ecunderabad -00 0 0 /ahitya Chayana 2) /aras*ati Ca'!) R. 4. Pura') /ector 6) ="!!osite 3<5 "ld Ca'!us> <e* (elhi 0 022

,al /ans+riti 4endra C9o V&AP) /C% .9 ) /ector 01() Chandigarh 20 0 /hishu 8ila! ) /rihari A!art'ents) ,ehind ?@!ress &otel) Al+a!uri) ,aroda 690 000 Cover: /till $ro' 4urosa*aAs $il') BVillage o$ the :ater'ills.A Cover Design: 8. 5!endar. Cell: C9 90 0; ;;96Printers: (eccan Press) ADa'abad) &yderabad1-00 020 A. P. Endia 2

C"<T?<T/
Pre$ace Prologue PART E: T&? PARTY E/ "V?R 1. :ol$ at the (oor 2. :hat about Alternative %or's o$ ?nergyF PART EE: :&?R? (" :? :A<T T" 7"F 3. The Vision $or a %ossil %uel %ree /ociety ;. <egative ?ntro!y and /ustainability 5. Cuba *ithout Es's PART EEE: :&AT T&?< /&"5#( :? ("F 2. The %ederal Re!ublic o$ Endia 7. Regional Enitiative 8. Trade 5nion Enitiatives 9. 5rban Enitiatives 10. Rural Enitiatives 11. :hat can E doF APP?<(EC?/ . The Gua+er 8ethod 2. A Village o$ the :ater'ills R?%?R?<C?/ A<( R?/"5RC?/ .0 .9 92 -2 20 0.0 .; 60 6. ;. .

PR?%AC?
The only possible paradise that we know for real is planet Earth. Human species started the process of losing it by exploiting his own kind and exploiting nature. The former being conspicuous, met with dissent from time to time. The accumulated scars of the latter began to appear only in the last couple of centuries. Presently, the extent and intensity of the phenomenon is such that it now endangers all life on Earth. This book is about regaining this paradise. Hence it is about ending exploitation of man by man and exploitation of nature by man. The two being inseparable, neither can be achieved in isolation. This book is about humility. It is about humility to accept we are part of all forms that belong here; to accept coexistence; to accept that science can assist us to live in harmony with nature, accepting and adapting to her ways. This book is about struggle. It is about struggles to stop the exploitation of man and of nature. And finally this book is about rebuilding communities. Being a social species, our survival is dependent on cooperation. This is possible only when there is individual freedom and mutual respect. There is no co!y right on this little boo+. Et is co!y le$t. You are *elco'e to use it in any *ay you li+e. En *riting this boo+ E have received hel!) encourage'ent and love $ro' innu'erable $riends. Et is !erha!s not !ossible to than+ the' all and i$ so'e na'es are le$t out it is unintentional. To begin *ith E 'ust than+ /agar (hara o$ the &yderabad Plat$or'. Et is his +no*ledge and constant concern on these issues that has ins!ired 'e to *rite this boo+. 5sha /rira') *ho 'anaged the $inances $or the boo+) has been a constant source o$ su!!ort and a good critiHue o$ everything E do. <yla Coelho has sho*n enor'ous !atience and a sense o$ hu'our in 'a+ing the te@t readable *ith her editing s+ills. /uresh 4osaraju has ta+en the entire res!onsibility o$ !ublishing including the cover design. E have received valuable co''ents and $eedbac+ $ro': Al+a /araogi) Arun ,idani) ,inaya+ /en) Elina /en) V. 3anardan) 3as*een 3airath) #ina 4rishnan) 8adhu /arin) 8eher ?ngineer) 8ohan 8ani) <agaraj Adve) Prata! Antony) Priti Anand) 4. /ahadevan) /anjeev 7hotge) /atya) /hree+u'ar) /ou'ya (utta) /uyodh Rao) 5sha Rao) Vasant ,a*a) Ven+at and Vinod Raina. Ti'ir ,asu o$ Frontier) 4ol+ata) /. /rivnasan o$ Medico Friends Circle and 8.R.

Rajago!alan o$ 7andhigra' have !ublished so'e o$ the !a!ers that have ended u! as cha!ters in this boo+. The boo+ has been co1!ublished by a !ublishing collective o$ seven organisations *ho in their goodness have ta+en the botherso'e business o$ raising $unds and boo+ distribution o$$ 'y hands. E ac+no*ledge their +indness *ith all hu'ility. 8ajor !art o$ the *or+ on the boo+ *as done at Cerana %oundaton) &yderabad. E a' grate$ul $or the hel! and su!!ort received $ro' /agar) Radhi+a and <avaneetha. :hile *or+ing on this boo+) in its $inal stages) E have stayed at an organic $ar' collective on the $oothills o$ the :estern 7hats. E a' grate$ul to the 'e'bers o$ the co''une 1 8anna) 8ilan) /vetlana) /andhya) Ranjana) ,inu) /ahadevan) Vinay and /hree+u'ar $or the su!!ort and love they have given 'e. E than+ the' all. T. Vijayendra <ove'ber ) 2009

<e* ?cological 5nderstandings

Circumstance the age of e!uberance is o"er# population has already o"ershot carrying capacity# and prodigal Homo sapiens ha"e drawn down the world$s sa"ings deposits% Conse&uence all forms of human organisation and beha"iour that are based on the assumption of limitlessness must change to forms that accord with finite limits%

:illia' R. Catton '"ershoot the ecological basis of re"olutionary change# ()*+

E<TR"(5CTE"<
The *orld is going through a 'ajor crisis. 8any have called it the biggest crisis a$ter the 929 de!ression. Several factors have come together to herald this crisis. First is environment degradation that has now reached a crisis point in the shape of global warming. Every one agrees that it is a very serious crisis. If carbon emissions continue at present levels, then the time will arrive when the tipping point will occur. That is, reversals will not be possible, that global warming itself will create more global warming. No one knows when such a point may be reached. Some say it has already occurred; some give it 10, 20, 50 or 100 years. The second factor is peak oil, peak gas and peaking of several mineral resources. Peaking means that after the particular point has been reached, production will not rise, but will fall. The reason is that there is only a finite quantity of these minerals and when half of it is taken out, the production starts falling. Often because) the cost o$ e@tracting $ro' le$tover) lo*er grade) re'nant sources) is 'uch higher in ter's o$ energy and 'oney. The third is the economic crisis which began in the U.S.A. with the housing crisis in September 2007 and got full blown in the financial melt down of September 2008. Broadly, there is no disagreement on these facts. The differences are in the response to these crises. The res!onse o$ the govern'ent and the ruling class $ollo* a !articular trend. Pri'arily all these crises are not considered together. ?ach is treated se!arately. The $inancial crisis is tac+led by a bail out +ind o$ res!onse. 7lobal *ar'ing is treated by international agree'ents o$ reducing e'issions. The res!onse to Pea+ oil and !ea+ gas is to o!t $or coal and nuclear energy) su!!le'ented by alternatives li+e solar) *ind) bio $uel etc. 8ost !eo!le are a*are o$ the di$$erent as!ects o$ this crisis in a !iece'eal 'anner. Thus $or the econo'ic crisis !eo!le *ant job security. Peo!le ho!e that these international agree'ents *ill 'anage to tac+le global *ar'ing. :hile 'any o!!ose coal and nuclear based energy sources) they all ho!e that either alternatives li+e solar) *ind etc. *ill ha!!en or so'e ne* technological innovation *ill solve the entire !roble'. This boo+ addresses these issues in a di$$erent 'anner. "ne cannot rule out the !ossibility that this a!!roach is *rongI that any o$ the above a!!roaches 'ay !rove rightI or that) the $uture being un!redictable) !roble's 'ay be addressed in an altogether ne* 'anner. All the sa'e) based on study and concern $or the $uture) this boo+ outlines a di$$erent a!!roach. %irst) in the o!inion o$ the author) this is the 'ost un!recedented crisis in hu'an history. %or the last 0)000 years or so) hu'an society has e@!erienced an increase in available energy through technological innovations and e@!loitation o$ 'an by 'an and e@!loitation o$ nature. This energy availability +e!t on increasing. And) in the last 200 years o$ industrial revolution it has increased enor'ously. The author believes that $or the $irst ti'e in hu'an history *e *ill $ace a decrease in available energy. Et is ta+en as a given that it is not !ossible to esti'ate *hen global *ar'ing *ill reach a 7

ti!!ing !oint. &o*ever) !ea+ oil and the related econo'ic crisis 'ay actually reduce e'issionI it is !ossible that global *ar'ing *ill be arrested) even though e$$ects o$ !ast *ar'ing *ill continue to create !roble's. The real solution then *ill be to learn to live *ith reduced levels o$ energy. There are t*o +inds o$ challenges involved. /ociety cannot go bac+ in ti'e $ro' its 'odern or !resent sensibilities. The challenge is ho* to have a 'odern society *ith reduced energy. A $ossil $uel $ree society i'!lies a drastic reduction o$ available energy $or 'an+ind. This 'a+es the !resent social syste' o$ ca!italis' unviable. &o*ever this does not 'ean that hu'ans are going bac+ to the /tone AgeJ 8ore than hal$ the energy used in the !resent syste' is irrational. The *ar industry) tobacco) narcotics) alcohol) 'uch o$ the 'edical industry) a lot o$ the $inance industry) bureaucracy etc are totally unnecessary. The alternative sources o$ energy *ould be su$$icient $or this reduced need o$ energy and still allo* 'an to live co'$ortably *ith 'odern sensibilities and 'odi$ied9i'!roved 'odern technologies. The second and 'ore i''ediate !roble' is that the ruling classes are not going to give u! voluntarily. Peo!le all over the *orld are struggling to save their livelihood) land) *ater and air $ro' the shar+s o$ the industry. The agents o$ change) there$ore) *ill be organised !eo!le *ho are carrying out these struggles. Peo!le *ill not agree to a solution *here they *ill continue to be !oor) o!!ressed and e@!loited. /o the $inal solution 'ay lie in reduced and eHuitable access to energy $or all. %inally) hu'an society has encroached on nature 'uch beyond its share at the cost o$ other living beings. &u'an society *ill have to restore these resources so that all $or's o$ li$e can survive. "ther*ise) hu'an society itsel$ *ill not survive. This boo+ is in three !arts. The $irst) BThe !arty is overA describes the nature o$ the !roble'I the second) B:here do *e *ant to goFA describes a vision o$ the $utureI and the third is) B:hat then should *e doFA En it the strategy !ro!osed is: 1. Halt the juggernaut of dying capitalism - coal based power plants, huge hydro-power plants, sponge iron plants, new mining leases etc. This can be done only through local people's organisations. 2. Build regional coalitions of people's organisation to plan and build a new society. To begin with, work towards assured alternative fossil fuel free livelihoods for every one. En the a!!endices) a brie$ descri!tion o$ the Gua+er 'ethod o$ dialogue and con$lict resolution has been included. Also the scri!t o$ BVillage *ith the :ater'illsA ) *hich is an e!isode $ro' 4urosa*aAs $il' B(rea'sA) has been included as an artistic and !oetic !ers!ective o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society. The objective o$ the boo+ is !ri'arily to !rovide educational 'aterial $or activists and non1!ro$essionals. The boo+ !uts $or*ard the vie*s and action !lans in a straight$or*ard) si'!le and cogent $or') *ithout 'eandering into acade'ic debates. :hile E chec+ed *ith !ro$essional colleagues that no gross error has occurred in the data !resented E have avoided giving re$erences. The re$erences !rovided at the end o$ the boo+ are 'ore in the nature o$ resources.

T&? PARTY E/ "V?R

&u'an history has 'oved through several stages designated as !ri'itive co''unis') slavery) $eudalis' and ca!italis') each era successively having shorter !eriods. "$ course di$$erent regions have had regional variations o$ this general sche'e. The current stage) the industrial society9ca!italis' that began at the end o$ the .th century is also co'ing to end) as the title o$ this section indicates. Various contributing $actors and events are dealt *ith) the !rinci!al a'ong *hich is the beginning o$ the end o$ availability o$ concentrated $or' o$ energy li+e oil. The cha!ter on alternative energy discusses that technological solutions alone cannot solve the !resent crisis and !ro!oses that the real solution lies in a socio1!olitical change based on scaling do*n o$ energy use and eHuity.

:"#% AT T&? (""R the imminent crisis of capitalism The ,ell is Tolling
En the !ast) #e$tists all over the *orld have !redicted the de'ise o$ ca!italis' 'any ti'es and have been !roved *rong. <o* that the de'ise is i''inent 1 the *ol$ is actually at the door K the le$tists are the last to believe it. :hat 'a+es the end o$ ca!italis' so i''inent is that) there are several crises that have co'e si'ultaneously) interacting and rein$orcing each other) that have 'ade the !resent crisis o$ ca!italis' !robably the last and $inal crisis o$ ca!italis'. /o'e o$ these crises are *ell +no*n) such as the EraH *ar) global *ar'ing) the ongoing *orld *ide recession... "thers such as !ea+ oil or !ea+ing o$ *orld $ood !roduction are less discussed in ne*s!a!ers and !o!ular 'ass 'edia. En Endia) violence in 4ash'ir) insurgency in the <orth ?ast and the <a@alite 'ove'ent has !osed a 'ajor threat to la* and order. ?very one o$ these is related to ca!italis' and each has reached its $lash !oint. 9 "rdinary !eo!le in every *al+ o$ li$e are dee!ly conscious that all is not *ell *ith the *orld. 8ajority o$ the !eo!le are in dee! econo'ic crisis) in their !ersonal lives. En Endia a third o$ the !o!ulation is living belo* !overty line and is $orced to deal *ith $ood shortage) illnesses and distress in the course o$ day to day e@istence. /everal thousands o$ $ar'ers and urban !oor have co''itted suicide. /yste's are $alling a!art. Patients are attac+ing doctorsI students are attac+ing teachers) and even going to the e@tent o$ +illing each otherJ A crisis o$ this !ro!ortion does not e'anate $ro' one single cause. :hen several issues converge in a negative synergistic 'anner it causes colla!se in a syste'. /o'e o$ these causes are being e@a'ined belo*) $ollo*ed by an atte'!t to establish their interconnectedness.

7lobal :ar'ing
The 'ain cause o$ global *ar'ing is burning o$ $ossil $uels in astrono'ical Huantities by the auto'obile industry and coal based ther'al !o*er !lants. The conseHuent release o$ green house gases =7&7> is so huge that it $ar e@ceeds the earthAs ca!acity to absorb the'. This consu'!tion o$ $ossil $uel is not evenly distributed across the globe or a'ong the !eo!le *ithin a country. An average A'erican !uts into the at'os!here ..- tons o$ C"2

10

e'ission !er year as co'!ared to a 'ere .. tons by an average Endian. These averages hide the $act that 'ost o$ the carbon out!ut is contributed by the 20L rich o$ these countries and that the !oor consu'e $ar less energy. Thus) even here) there are e@tre'e ineHualities in 7&7 out!ut *ithin and across countries. This level o$ release o$ 7&7 is relatively a ne* !heno'enon. %or tens o$ thousands o$ years) hu'anity has e@isted) slo*ly changing the natural environ'ent and ecology to 'eet its e@istential reHuire'ents. &o*ever) hu'an activities o$ the !resent day that lead to increase in greenhouse gases are very s!eci$ic. They do not !ertain to the tribal or co''unity based village li$e that hu'anity led in the !ast and *hich even today billions o$ !oor !eo!le lead. 7&7 is the direct conseHuence o$ coal1based stea' technology that sa* the creation o$ the industrial revolution and 'ass !roduction !atterns. En the 20th century oil re!laced as *ell as su!!le'ented coal causing $urther !ollution and global *ar'ing. :hy does ca!italis' need continuous increase in energy consu'!tionF The logic o$ ca!italis' is !roduction $or sale and !ro$it and not necessarily $or reHuire'ents. Et $ollo*s that) to increase !ro$its) one should go on !roducing 'ore and 'ore create arti$icial needs and de'ands through !ublic 'ind control. All o$ *hich necessarily reHuires consu'!tion o$ energy. Thus) global *ar'ing is a s!eci$ic historical !heno'enon. Et is *ith the ascendancy o$ industrial1based ca!italis' in the !ast one hundred and $i$ty years that global *ar'ing has occurred in a dra'atic 'anner and increased to a !oint that threatens to alter the earthAs cli'ate and ecology irreversibly. En recent years) global *ar'ing has reached crisis levels because it is e@ceeding the biological carrying ca!acity o$ the earth. "ne and hal$ earths are reHuired to 'eet the needs and balance the de'ands o$ current hu'an consu'!tion levels. This is inevitably leading to the ti!!ing !oint) 'eaning) that *e have reached a !oint in ti'e *hen global *ar'ing cannot be reversed. That is) *e have entered a vicious cycle *here global *ar'ing itsel$ leads to $urther global *ar'ing and no one can do anything about it. "ne cannot !oint *ith certainty as to *hen the ti!!ing !oint *ill occur. /o'e even clai' that it has already occurred and that hu'anity *ill see and $eel its conseHuences in co'ing years. The assu'!tion here is) it has not yet occurred and *e have) say) a *indo* o$ ten years le$t do so'ething about it. The reason $or this assu'!tion is that changes in hu'an society occur $aster than changes in nature. 8any !eo!le believe that ca!italis' can re$or'. Et is true that no big changes occur till all the e@isting alternatives are tried out. ,ut today) the very 'aterial basis o$ ca!italis') i.e.) the concentrated $or' o$ energy 1 oil 1 is co'ing to an end or is beco'ing econo'ically unviable. Although coal is still available) as *ill be seen later) it is the 'ost undesirable source o$ energy and cannot easily dis!lace oil. Then) *hat about alternative $or's o$ energy that donMt release 7&7 to this e@tentF This

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*ill be dealt *ith) in greater detail) in section EE o$ this boo+. Can all o$ us individually do so'ethingF Certainly yesJ Et *ill not be to save ca!italis' but to *or+ to*ards building an alternative along *ith 'ajor social and !olitical changes. Et 'ust not be $orgotten that in order to solve the !roble' the essential need is to roll bac+ energy consu'!tion to at least !re 90- levelsI !re$erable even earlier to say 960 levels. E have yet to co'e across a road'a! that can do it *ithin the ca!italist syste'. E $ir'ly believe that this !roble' can only be solved by the de'ise o$ ca!italis'. E$ this does not ha!!en) E have no doubt that *e *ill reach the ti!!ing !oint in the near $uture. So it is imperati"e that capitalism should collapse within (, years or so# so that life on earth has a chance to sur"i"e% There$ore one should loo+ at the tendencies that *ill lead to such an event. "ne such 'ajor tendency is Pea+ "il.

Pea+ "il
/o *hat e@actly is BPea+ "ilA1 *hich is li+ely to lead to the end o$ the industrial eraF At the !resent rate o$ consu'!tion) all available oil *ill be used u! *ithin this century. ,ut !ea+ oil is not about *hen *e run out o$ oil) but rather) *hen the !roduction o$ oil starts to decline) and this is 'uch closer. Et 'ay be as close as 20 0. 8any observers believe that it has already occurred and *e are *itnessing the e$$ects in the global crash o$ ca!italis'J "n the other hand) 'any !eo!le believe that Pea+ "il is a $e* years or decades a*ay. This does not change the 'ain argu'ent that $ollo*s belo* as *ell as the $act that the consu'!tion o$ $ossil $uel is causing global *ar'ing and environ'ent degradation in signi$icant *ays and there$ore its use 'ust be reduced as soon as !ossible. &o* does one !redict) B*hen Pea+ "il *ill occurAF En 9-2 a 5/ scientist) 8. 4ing &ubbert correctly !redicted that 5/ oil !roduction *ould !ea+ in 900. /ince then) his 'ethods o$ accurate !redictions have been re$ined $urther. ?ssentially it is based on the $act that all locations o$ 'ajor de!osits o$ oil are +no*n) because) it is easier to locate large de!osits. There$ore no ne* discoveries o$ large oil de!osits are li+ely to occur. /econdly) since the consu'!tion !attern is +no*n it enables one to 'a+e $airly accurate !redictions. The dates) ho*ever) 'ay be advanced due to several $actors. %or e@a'!le) consu'!tion has increased dra'atically in China and Endia. The oil1!roducing countries in :est Asia are using 'ore oil to s!end their inco'e $ro' rising oil !rices. %inally) the *ars being *aged !ri'arily to gain control over oil resources 1 li+e the EraH *ar 1 are not only consu'ing 'ore oil but are also !roving counter!roductive. Pea+ "il crisis starts *ith rise in !etroleu' !rices. %or so'e ti'e the $igure o$ 5/( 00 !er barrel o$ crude has been considered to be the turning !oint. "n <ove'ber 2 ) 2000 oil !rice hit 5/( 99. En 200. it reached 5/( ;0) ushering in an econo'ic crisisI a recession in <orth A'erica) ?uro!e and 3a!an. 8any believe that in the 5/A the econo'ic crisis started *ith the housing crisis in August 2000. This econo'ic crisis) as *e +no*) is leading to a *orld*ide colla!se o$ the syste'. Trans!ort and !o*er are the bac+bone o$ an industrial society and a crisis in either or both can lead to a general brea+do*n. The rise in trans!ort costs increases all co''odity !rices. Che'ical $ertilisers and !esticides are !etroleu' based !roducts. A rise in their

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!rices 'ay reduce $ood !roduction leading to increase in $ood !rices. =En $act) so'e say the *orld $ood !roduction has !ea+ed in 200. and that there *ill not be any $urther rise in *orld $ood !roductionJ> These !rocesses lead to decrease in relative !urchasing !o*er) $all in de'and) and recession. The 7overn'ent o$ Endia is trying hard to 'aintain the subsidy on C<7) #P7 and +erosene. :ithout the subsidy) the !rice o$ these co''odities *ould be 'uch higher) 'a+ing the' out o$ reach o$ 'any !oor and 'iddle class users. "ne *ay to overco'e short$all is to issue !etroleu' bonds. ,ut this only distributes the ris+ to a *ider range o$ gullible !eo!leI 'anaging only to buy ti'e $or a short !eriod. Very si'!ly !ut) there is no solution to this crisis.

The EraH :ar

As is *ell +no*n) the *ar in EraH is $or control over oil. A$ter /audi Arabia) EraH has the second largest reserve o$ oil. 5/A) *ith about -L o$ the *orldAs !o!ulation consu'es 2-L o$ the *orldAs !roduction o$ oil. Ets o*n reserve is only 6L o$ the *orldAs !roven oil reserves. 5/A i'!orts 2-L o$ the oil it consu'es) 6L o$ *hich co'es $ro' /audi Arabia) *hich has 2-L o$ the *orldAs !roven reserves. %or 5/A) the ai' o$ the *ar *as to control the gro*ing !o*er o$ /adda' &ussein and to have access to EraHAs oil on its o*n ter's) as *ith /audi Arabia and 8e@ico. :hile the *ar caused untold 'iseries and deaths to the EraHi !eo!le) 5/A did not $ully succeed in its *ar ai's. Et controlled EraHAs gro*ing !o*er) but the oil !roduction dro!!ed during the *ar. En $act it is Eran *hich has bene$ited $ro' the *ar. Ets arch ene'y) /adda' has been eli'inated and in his !lace is the /hia co''unity do'inated govern'ent) *hich is on $riendly ter's *ith Eran. As other global events have un$olded) 5/A has in $act beco'e *ea+erI going do*nhill steadily since 3uly 2000. Today) 5/A is e@tre'ely vulnerable and is in the gri!s o$ a 'ajor recession.

%ood Production Pea+ing

A basic essential $or 'an+ind is $ood. The *orld !o!ulation has gro*n three$old in the last 00 years and so has the reHuire'ent $or $ood. %ood !roduction is increased by increasing the area under cultivation and increasing !roductivity by utilising irrigation) $ertilisers and !esticides. The increase in land area $or $ood has a $inite li'it and it has co'e no*. En $act 'any non $ood cro!s are ta+ing u! agricultural land. &istorically it *as sugar) cotton and tobaccoI today $loriculture) bio1$uels and ethanol !roduction is eating u! e@isting cro! areas as *ell as $orests. /i'ilarly) increase in !roductivity also has its li'its. A$ter so'e ti'e) ty!ically a$ter about 60 years or so) land degradation and reduced $ertility occur. As a result) 'ore and 'ore che'ical $ertilisers and che'ical !esticides are reHuired to 'aintain !roductivity. /alinity o$ land increases. :ith oil !ea+ing) costs o$ che'ical in!uts also start increasing. En the absence o$ social su!!ort structures and subsidies) $ar'ing beco'es increasingly unviable. En Endia) this has led to tens o$ thousands o$ $ar'ers co''itting suicide.

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All these $actors have led to decrease in rate o$ gro*th o$ !roductionI no* that !roduction has reached its !ea+) it *ill start to decrease. En Endia) $or the last 0 years !roduction o$ *heat) dals and 'illets have $allen steadily. The !er ca!ita availability o$ $ood also has been decreasing. The !oor having relatively less !urchasing !o*er are starving) dying or ta+ing the e@tre'e ste! o$ co''itting suicide. The *orld $ood !roduction has in $act $allen this year =2009>. ConseHuently a billion !eo!le are !resently $acing hunger and starvation.

Enter1i'!erialist Contradiction
:ith the de!letion and scarcity o$ resources) ca!italist !o*ers are in shar! contradictions *ith one another over resource control. Russia *ith large natural resources o$ gas and !etrol and 'ilitary !o*er is able to con$ront ?uro!e and the 5/A. China *ith its huge econo'ic !o*er is able to !urchase reserves o$ non rene*able resources =that is gas and !etrol> all over the *orld and also buy the co'!anies that control the'. The 5/A o*es so 'uch 'oney to China that China is converting its dollar reserves into 'ar+et shares o$ 5/ co'!anies. /o'e even say that the 5/ econo'y is integrating into Chinese econo'y in the sa'e *ay as the ,ritish econo'y integrated *ith the 5/ econo'y a$ter the /econd :orld :ar. En the 20th century) this +ind o$ a situation led to the t*o *orld *ars. Today a *ar o$ that nature is too dangerous because o$ nuclear *ea!onry. &ence *ars are being *aged by the 5/A directly over countries *ith resources that are not under its control. /till 'ajor con$rontations cannot be ruled out. The Pug*ash cloc+ *hich sy'bolically indicates ho* close *e are to a global disaster has been 'oved u! by 2 'inutesI that +ee!s us only 'inutes a*ay $ro' such a disaster.

The /outh versus the <orth

These ter's have co'e to i'!ly the under develo!ed and the develo!ing countries =the /outh> and the develo!ed countries =the <orth>) because) as it ha!!ens) al'ost all the develo!ed countries) e@ce!t Australia) lie in the <orthern he'is!here. <o* in various international bodies) li+e the 5< agencies) :T") :orld ,an+ and E8%) the /outh is trying to act as a bloc+ to reduce the e@!loitation by the <orth. A'ong the 'ost vocal are leaders $ro' Cuba) VeneDuela and 8alaysia. /o'e o$ the Arab countries li+e /yria) #ebanon and Palestine are also e@tre'ely vocal in their conde'nation o$ the 5/A. /o'e o$ these countries are $ollo*ing e@tre'ely innovative !olicies *ithin their countries. /o'e o$ *hich 'ay hel! the' !re!are $or the crisis o$ ca!italis' and reduce their vulnerability. Alongside) they are also trying to increase their share o$ holdings o$ the *orldAs non rene*able resources) thus dee!ening the crisis $urther.

Anti1i'!erialist 8ove'ents
There are several +inds o$ these 'ove'ents.

14

. "rganised !olitical 'ove'ents: These are 'ainly 8aoist sort o$ 'ove'ents. En <e!al they have *on a 'ajor victory. En Endia the 8aoist9<a@alites are the 'ost signi$icant anti state organised 'ove'ent. ,esides *hich) in several countries) co''unist 'ove'ents e@ist and they organise trade unions and !easant organisations. Endividual co''unists also *or+ in several other organisations concerning civil liberties) *o'enAs 'ove'ents) tribal and dalit 'ove'ents and so on. 2. Another organised 'ove'ent is Al Gaeda sort o$ grou!s. Et has a 'ass basis as a result o$ atrocities co''itted by the 5/ ar'y against the !eo!le o$ :est Asia and the desecration o$ their religious sites. The 'ove'ent has tre'endous 'ass su!!ort and the ability to hit the 5/ in its vulnerable !ositions. &o*ever) 'any !eo!le in the anti i'!erialist 'ove'ent disagree *ith these organisations clai'ing they do 'ore har'. ?ven *ithin the Esla'ic nations) their su!!ort to Taliban +ind o$ Esla'ic $unda'entalis' is o!!osed by 'any !eo!le. &istorically) these organised grou!s had su!!ort $ro' the 5/ govern'ent) so also $ro' the ar'y and intelligence $orces in Pa+istan. They *ere a strong $orce against the Russians in A$ghanistan. 6. There are large !eo!lesA 'ove'ents against 'ajor !rojects o$ ca!italis' such as large da's) large coal based !o*er !lants) s!onge iron !lants) nuclear !o*er !lants) s!ecial econo'ic Dones =/?Ns> and so on. They co'!rise o$ !easants *hose land is at sta+e) environ'entalists and naturalists *ho $ear that these !rojects *ill da'age ecosyste's and citiDensA grou!s. They also have the sy'!athy) su!!ort and involve'ent o$ radical acade'ia $ro' a'ong the science and hu'anities strea's as also activists $ro' the !eo!lesA science 'ove'ents. ;. %inally) there are innu'erable locally organised s'all grou!s all over the *orld addressing location s!eci$ic or larger concerns *ithin their li'ited s!here o$ o!eration. The o$t Huoted rationale has been BThin+ 7lobally Act #ocallyA. Politically) they range $ro' anarchists o$ various hues) socialists) civil rights activists) *o'en) blac+ and dalit grou!s so also so'e religious grou!s. :hile their i'!act on ca!italis' and the dee!ening crisis 'ay not be very signi$icant) their role in contributing to*ards a !ossible $uture vision is very critical.

:hy does no one A!!ear to be botheredF

<o ruling class in history ever a!!eared to be a*are o$ their i''inent $all. They are a+in to drun+en drivers do*n a slo!e di'ly a*are that there is danger luring ahead but nevertheless con$ident that they *ill carry through this ti'eJ &o*ever there are variations) !articularly) in M'ar+etM circles and a'ong !ro$essionals. 8ar+ets in the 5/A have been jittery over the last t*o years) ever since the housing bubble burst and 'ore so since the $inancial 'elt do*n o$ /e!te'ber 200.. Pro$essionals in their journals have been giving *arnings. ,ut on the *hole) the ruling class co'es across as con$ident. The Endian crisis has not yet reached such a serious level) so the Endian ruling classes and the state a!!ear very con$ident. :hat about the le$t and leaders o$ the !eo!lesA 'ove'entsF The !arlia'entary le$t)

15

!articularly CPE18) being in !o*er) is totally co''itted to ca!italis'. Their veteran leader) 3yoti ,asu) even said on 3anuary -) 200. that in the near $uture there is no alternative to ca!italis' and that socialis' is not !ossible in the near $uture. "n the other hand) !eo!lesA leaders have been so busy assisting their !eo!le in their struggles $or sheer survival against o!!ression and e@!loitation by the ruling classes and the /tate that they have little breathing s!ace to ta+e stoc+. Then) there are 'any *ho are a*are o$ the dee!ening crisis o$ ca!italis') but $eel hel!less. The sincere a'ong the' continue to *or+ *ith !eo!lesA struggles in various ca!acities. And $inally) there could !ossibly be a dee!er reason. ?ric %ro'' called it M%ear o$ %reedo'M. :hen one has been a slave so long) it is di$$icult to i'agine and !lan $or a day *hen you *ill be $ree to !lan your o*n li$e. The !heno'enon is evident in retired !eo!leI on retire'ent) in s!ite o$ adeHuate 'eans o$ survival) they are unable to live on their o*n. /o'e get de!ressedI a $e* go to the e@tent o$ ending their o*n li$e. ,ut this need not be so. There have been drea'ers in the !ast and revolutions too have occurred in the !ast. A$ter all) *e have nothing to lose but our shac+lesJ "nce *e are convinced about the i''inence o$ the crisisI its +no*ledge should enable us to collectively evolve a viable) $ossil $uel inde!endent) lo* energy usage $uture *ith eHuity a'ong hu'an beings and har'ony *ith nature as the nor'. /uch a vision should also hel! in evolving a !ractical road'a! $or an ordered transition. This ordered transition 'ay necessitate violent con$rontations *ith the ruling classes. The !rogra''e could !rovide guidance to !eo!lesA 'ove'ents) organisations) trade unions) <7"s) volunteer grou!s and even to individuals. /uch a !rogra''e *ill hel! dis!el the hel!lessness and de$eatis'I the sense o$ $ighting a losing battle. Et *ill energise !eo!le to *or+ to*ards a sustainable $uture) i$ not $or ourselves) at least $or the $uture generations. A$ter all *e o*e the' a legacy o$ res!onsible behaviour to*ards the !lanet.

16

:hat about Alternative %or's o$ ?nergyF

Today) 'any are ready to acce!t) devoid 'uch understanding) that the era o$ coal) !etrol and gas is co'ing to an end. Coal) though available in !lenty in China) Endia and 'any other !arts o$ the *orld) is beco'ing unacce!table because o$ greater C" 2 e'issions and global *ar'ing. "n the other hand) oil and gas are !ea+ing) that is) their !roduction has reached its 'a@i'u' =!ea+ed> and hence$orth *ill +ee! on $alling. The thought) ho*ever) that al*ays $ollo*s is: *hat about alternativesF :hat about nuclear) hydro) solar) *ind) bio1$uel and so onF There is a genuine lac+ o$ +no*ledge and understanding regarding the nature o$ alternative sources o$ energyI o$ *hat is !ossible and *hat is not. An atte'!t to deal *ith this as!ect o$ the Huestion reveals that there are no real alternatives to the !resent level o$ energy consu'!tion and that the only viable alternative is to reduce energy consu'!tions. E'!lied *ithin this argu'ent is that the !resent !o*er structure *ill cru'bleI that the days o$ ca!italis' and industrial society are over. The above argu'ent 'ay not necessitate going bac+ to the /tone Age. Alternative sources o$ energy *ould be su$$icient to 'eet reduced energy needsI *ill still allo* $or a li$e o$ co'$ort given our evolved sensibilities and i'!roved lo* energy technologies. 8ost !eo!le today $ind it di$$icult to acce!t this argu'ent because o$ rationales based on e@!eriential 'e'ory. The $irst being) 'any !eo!le believe the !o*er$ul *ill al*ays $ind a *ay to re'ain in !o*erI $or e@a'!le) during the ?'ergency in Endia 1 900) !eo!le $elt that the then Pri'e 8inster 8s. Endira 7andhi *ould continue to stay in !o*er. The history o$ the last 0)000 years or so sho*s that 'an+ind has increased its access to !o*er through syste'atic Be@!loitationA o$ nature through science) technology) social !o*er) e@!loitation o$ 'an by 'an etc. &ence it is di$$icult to i'agine or believe that the availability o$ energy at !resent levels *ill decrease.

17

8ore i'!ortantly) !eo!le are not ready to acce!t a drastic change in their lives. Et is a+in to acce!ting a !ersonal tragedyI sudden loss o$ jobI death o$ a childI sel$ ad'ission o$ co'!ulsive addictions etc. /i'ilarly) having got used to a certain li$e style or as 7eorge ,ush said) B*e are addicted to oil.A it is di$$icult to acce!t that !resent li$estyles *ill have to changeI that the era o$ industrialisation is overI and that one *ill have to live at a 'uch lo*er level o$ energy utilisation. Psychologists use the ter' (A,(A 1 (isbelie$ and (enial) Anger) ,argaining) (e!ression and $inally Acce!tance to describe the !rocess o$ acce!ting the unacce!table. (ra*ing an analogy 1 today the *orld is 'ainly going through OdenialP. /o'e are angry because o$ loss o$ job) scaling do*n $ro' set li$e styles etc. Those *ho are secure today are going through a !rocess o$ ObargainingP. Et is they *ho are as+ing the Huestion) but *hat about alternative sources o$ energyF Acce!ting change is relative to !revious e@!eriences. Peo!le *ho have never been inside an air!lane are ready to acce!t a *orld *ithout aviation. Peo!le *ho have never o*ned a car are ha!!y to have bicycles and !ublic trans!ort. Thousands o$ !oor or rural d*ellers have only seen such conveniences $ro' a distance. :hen told about it) they are 'ore li+ely to say: BEs that so) *ell) *e can surviveJA

?nergy 7eneration
To begin *ith) the !roduction or generation o$ any $or' o$ energy resource $ro' $ossil $uel de!osits or $ro' other sources reHuires an initial e@!enditure o$ the sa'e 1 also +no*n as energy invest'ent. To !roduce) !rocure or e@tract any energy resource *hether it is !u'!ing oil out o$ the ground or building and o!erating a *ind turbine it reHuires e@!ending so'e a'ount o$ energy. /i'!listically co''unicated it 'eans) energy is reHuired to !roduce) trans!ort) store and use energy. E$ the energy return is less than the energy used to !roduce it) then) it is generally not *orth the botherJ This signi$icant ele'ent 1 hardly ever considered in !o!ular debate 1 in the generation o$ energy goes by the acrony' ?R"E K ?nergy Returned on Envest'ent.

Co'!aring di$$erent ?nergy Processes

7iven in the table are ?R"E values $or various energy !roduction !rocesses. The brea+ even $or ?R"E being .0) any $igure less than .0) in$ers a net QlossQ. The value 0..) $or e@a'!le *ould 'ean a net energy loss o$ 20L. That is) it *ould ta+e 20L 'ore to acHuire) generate or !roduce a given Huantu') than the energy available $or use. "b"iously not a good deal- En !ractice) an ?R"E o$ .; is generally considered 'ini'u' acce!table as there are other losses in using that energy. This is so because all real1li$e !rocesses are irreversible. The ?R"E value in the 9;0Ms $or oil and gas stands at greater than 00 $or discoveries. 8eaning) at the *ellhead i.e.) *here the oil9gas s!rings out o$ the ground) the energy returned is 'ore than 00 ti'es the energy utiliDed $or its e@traction...a "ery good deal-

18

Table o$ co'!arative ?R"E values. R

PR"C?// .onrenewable /esources "il and gas =do'estic *ell head> 9;0As 900As 2000 Coal (mine mouth) 9-0As 900As 2000 Oil shale Coal liquefaction Geopressured gas Renewable Resources ?thanol =sugarcane> ?thanol =corn> ?thanol =corn residues> 8ethanol =*ood> /olar: %lat1 !late collector /olar: Concentrating collector ?R"E (iscoveriesS 00.0 Production26.0 (iscoveries..0 Production .0 .0.0 60.0 .0 0.0 to 6.6 0.- to ..2 .0 to -.0 0.. to .0 .6 0.0 to .. 2.2 .9 .2

0lectricity Production Coal: 5/A Average &ydro!o*er <uclear =lightK*ater reactor> /olar Po*er satellite Po*er to*er Photovoltaic 7eother'al:#iHuid do'inated 7eother'al:&ot dry roc+

9.0 .2 ;.0 2.0 ;.2 .0 to 0.0 ;.0 .9 to 6.0

*/ource: ?nergy and the 5./. ?cono'y: A ,io!hysical Pers!ective Cutler 3. ClevelandI Robert CostanDaI Charles A. /. &allI Robert 4au$'ann /cience) <e* /eries) Vol. 22-) <o. ;22- =Aug. 6 ) 9.;>) .901.90. %igures $or the year 2000 are $ro' the internet. "n e@a'ining the table) a $e* things beco'e clear. %or both coal and oil the ?R"E decreases as resources de!lete. Translated into econo'ics this 'eans a dro! in viability

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and !roduction. ,eing a nonrene*able resource) a stage is bound to co'e *hen it is no longer econo'ical to e@tract or 'ine the t*o. En case o$ oil) *e are very near it. The stage is also +no*n as BPea+ "ilA. #iHuid 7as 'ay ta+e another decade or so to !ea+. Coal is beco'ing unacce!table even be$ore !ea+ing occurs because it is the dirtiest o$ all $uels 1causing !ollution. Et contributes to global *ar'ing 'ore than oil or gas. Thus) !roducing electricity $ro' coal instead o$ $ro' natural gas causes nearly 00L 'ore carbon dio@ide e'issionsI a!art $ro' the conseHuent !ollution and cleansing costs. &o*ever) being 0 to 60 ti'es 'ore e$$icient) no other $or' o$ energy is any*here near as e$$icient or !ro$itable as coal and oil. &ence) none can re!lace coal and oil to the !resent level o$ consu'!tion. 7enerating electricity *ill reduce ?R"E $urther $or coal and gas because energy is reHuired to run the !o*er !lant. ?@ce!t hydro electric !o*er) in all other cases the ?R"E is not very good and there$ore their use *ill be li'ited.

"ther !roble's *ith Alternatives

/o'e other !roble's *ith alternatives to oil and gas are: T That they are generally only o$ use in the !roduction o$ heat and electricity and not the 'ultitude o$ uses that oil in !articular is !ut to $ro' trans!ort to !lastics. "$ course *ind and $lo*ing *ater has been used $or 'illennia $or trans!ortI $or !u'!ingI $or grindingI $or cooling and ice1'a+ingI in agriculture as energy. /olar heat has been used $or all +inds o$ drying. T ?ach is acco'!anied by its o*n $or' o$ !ollution T ?ven *ith increasing their harnessing to 'a@i'u' !otential) it *ould be hard to 'eet !resent day reHuire'ents.

%uel /ource and Pollution Proble's

Pollution !roble's o$ di$$erent $uel sources 'ay be su''arised as $ollo*s: "il: global *ar'ing) air !ollution by vehicles) acid rain) oil s!ills) oil rig accidents. <atural gas: global *ar'ing) !i!e lea+age) 'ethane e@!losions. Coal: global *ar'ing) environ'ent degradation due to o!encast 'ining) land subsidence due to dee! 'ining) s!oil hea!s) ground*ater !ollution) acid rain. <uclear !o*er: global *ar'ing =des!ite *hat they say>) radioactivity =routine release) ris+ o$ accident) *aste dis!osal>) 'isuse o$ $issile 'aterial by terrorists) s!read o$ nuclear *ea!ons. ,io1$uels: e$$ect on landsca!e and biodiversity) ground*ater !ollution due to $ertilisers) use o$ scarce *ater resources) co'!etition *ith $ood !roduction. &ydroelectric: dis!lace'ent o$ !o!ulations) e$$ect on rivers and ground*ater) da's =visual intrusion and ris+ o$ accident>) seis'ic e$$ects) e$$ects on agriculture do*nstrea'. :ind !o*er: noise) visual intrusion in sensitive landsca!es) bird stri+es) TV inter$erence. /olar energy: seHuestration o$ large land areas) use o$ to@ic 'aterials in 'anu$acture o$ PV cells) visual intrusion in both rural and urban environ'ents.

20

A closer loo+ at so'e o$ the alternatives <uclear Po*er

"$ all the alternativesI ins!ite o$ being advertised 'ost) the nuclear o!tion is not acce!table at allJ The Endian govern'ent is hell bent on getting nuclear energy in s!ite o$ o!!osition $ro' all sides o$ the debate. &ere) E *ould li+e to introduce a !ersonal e@!erience. En the nineteen $i$ties E *as in school. At that ti'e) the 5./. govern'ent launched the !rogra''e) Ato's $or Peace. Et used ?insteinAs $a'ous eHuation bet*een 'ass and energy) *hich i'!lied) one could get enor'ous energy $ro' s!litting the ato' as de'onstrated by the ato'ic bo'b. Et also said that energy *ould be so chea! that it *ill not be *orth*hile billing it. :e *ere all i'!ressed. And E even decided to *or+ $or itJ 8any years later = 92012.> E actually *or+ed at the /aha Enstitute o$ <uclear Physics) Calcutta. &ere E ca'e across the Bulletin of 1tomic Scientists. ?stablished in 9;- by scientists *ho $elt guilty about having hel!ed to !roduce the ato' bo'b) it ai'ed at the scienti$ic co''unity readershi! to in$or' the' about the 'isuse o$ science. The contributors to the bulletin *ere several i'!ortant !hysicists and other scientists) 'any o$ the' <obel #aureates including ?instein. En 920) E *as a $resh graduate in ?lectronics ?ngineering and *as naturally i'!ressed by these B7urus o$ 'y 7urusA. The ,ulletin 'ade it a'!ly clear that the nuclear energy !rogra''e *as essentially a civilian $ront $or the *ea!on !rogra''e and that on its o*n it is not at all a viable energy !rogra''e. /o E as+ed 'ysel$) *hat a' E doing hereF /oon) E le$t the Enstitute and vo*ed E *ould never allo* 'y +no*ledge o$ science and technology to be used against 'an+ind and nature. Today no one s!ea+s o$ BAto's $or PeaceA as it has been de'onstrated to be a total lie. There have been ca'!aigns against nuclear ar's and energy $or decades) the 'ost $a'ous being) Campaign for .uclear 2isarmament (C<(> in ?ngland. There is also a cha!ter o$ C<( in Endia. They have !ublished enor'ous literature on the subject and established beyond doubt that: En s!ite all the hy!e about nuclear energy) the total contribution to electricity generation $ro' nuclear energy to the *orld is only - L and to any countryAs electricity su!!ly it has never e@ceeded 20L e@ce!t in %rance =0.L>) ,elgiu' =-;L>) /outh 4orea =69>) /*itDerland =60L> and 3a!an =60L>. <ot even in the 5 /A *here the $irst nuclear chain reaction *as !er$or'edJ 5/A *ent on to 'a+e the $irst ato'ic bo'b and used it on &iroshi'a and <agasa+i in 3a!an.

<uclear !o*er stations have a li$e o$ ;0 years or so) a$ter *hich) they have to be deco''issioned. The nuclear *aste and the old !lant have to be then !rotected $ro' causing radiation da'age $or the ne@t thousands o$ years. The 'yth o$ electricity !roduced $ro' nuclear !o*er being chea! holds true to the e@tent o$ o!erating costs only. ?ven then) the ?R"E is only ; as co'!ared to oil) coal and hydro!o*er) *hich are in the range o$ 0. :hen the cost o$ research)

21

develo!'ent) construction) deco''issioning) storage and dis!osal o$ *aste are included) nuclear turns out to be the 'ost e@!ensive conventional energy source. 8any countries that have a nuclear energy !rogra''e also have a *ea!on !rogra''e including Endia and Pa+istan. /o'e have hidden !rogra''es li+e Esrael and Eran. Countries that do not have a *ea!on !rogra''e but have nuclear energy !rogra''es are deco''issioning their !lants and are not building ne* ones. Countries that have a good stoc+!ile o$ *ea!ons) li+e the 5/A have not co''issioned a ne* !lant $or decades. Accidents at Three 8iles Esland and Chernobyl have also acted as a deterrent. %rance has a *ea!on !rogra''e and a real energy !rogra''e) *hich contributes so'e 0.L to its electricity reHuire'ents. The reason is) %rance has no coal and oil and it is $orced to build nuclear !o*er stations *ith huge subsidies culled $ro' ta@!ayersA 'oney. ,elgiu') /outh 4orea) /*itDerland and 3a!an have a si'ilar !roble'. &o*ever) these countries are rich) have trade sur!luses and can a$$ord itJ En all other cases) nuclear !o*er stations have only i$ ever) been built *ith huge subsidies. ,ritish nuclear !o*er industry has cost tens o$ billions o$ !ounds over the last -0 years. (eco''issioning old nuclear !o*er stations is costing over U00 billion and rising. :hat it i'!lies isI in all the countries that have *ea!on !rogra''e 1 o!en) hidden or !otential 1 nuclear !o*er stations have been built as a civilian $ront $or the *ea!on !rogra''e. <uclear *ea!ons and nuclear !o*er share a co''on technological basis. /+illed *or+ers and continuing research are bene$icial $or both industries. The !rocess o$ enriching uraniu' to 'a+e it into $uel $or nuclear !o*er stations can be a ste! to*ards $urther enriching it to 'a+e nuclear *ea!ons. 5sed $uel =s!ent nuclear $uel> $ro' nuclear !o*er stations can be se!arated out to recover any usable ele'ents such as uraniu' and !lutoniu' through a 'ethod called re!rocessing. Plutoniu' is a by1!roduct o$ the nuclear $uel cycle and can also be used to 'a+e nuclear *ea!ons. EndiaAs nuclear !rogra''e) including the deal *ith the 5/ is !roble'atic. Et see's that it *ill give Endia the energy at enor'ous costs and 'ay not give the *ea!ons. 5nli+e 3a!an) Endia cannot a$$ord it. The !rogra''e essentially bails out the nuclear !o*er !lant industry in the 5/) %rance) Russia) their Endian collaborators li+e the ,&?#) and hel!s the building industry. ?ven then) its !ros!ect o$ adding to EndiaAs !o*er generation is negligible because the !lants have a gestation o$ - years and they end u! only re!lacing old !lants *hich *ill then be ready $or deco''issioningJ

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,io$uels
,io1$uel is 'ade by converting bio'ass into a $uel. Et is used $or running 'achinery and 'otor vehiclesI and is the only alternative $uel that can al'ost directly re!lace oil and gas. The diesel engine a$ter all) *as originally designed to run on a variety o$ $uels and it can be o!erated using bio1$uels *ith little or no adjust'ent. ,io1diesel is a che'ically altered vegetable oil *hile ethanol 1 another co''on $uel 1 is a $uel1grade $or' o$ alcohol !roduced by grain $er'entation and as a !ro$itable by!roduct o$ the sugar industry. &o*ever) bio1$uels co'e *ith their o*n set o$ deterrentsI es!ecially *here $ar'ing is carried out s!eci$ically $or the !ur!ose. ,io1$uels are not chea!. The ?R"E is less than 2 and can even be less than in *hich case it is not even *orth !roducing. 7ro*ing 'aiDe Vused to create ethanol in the 5/AW a!!ears to consu'e 60L 'ore energy than the end !roductI leaving eroded soils and !olluted *aters behind. :ith li'ited land available it 'ay be !rudent to use it $or $ar'ing or $orestry. The grain reHuired to $ill the !etrol tan+ o$ a Range Rover *ith ethanol is su$$icient to $eed one !erson $or a year. Assu'ing the !etrol tan+ is re$illed every t*o *ee+s) the a'ount o$ grain reHuired could +ee! a $e* $a'ilies *ell $ed $or a year. The irres!onsible gro*ing o$ bio1cro!s can do tre'endous har'. The rise in the !roduction o$ !al' oil $or bio1diesel could turn out to be catastro!hicI threatening to !ut 'ore carbon dio@ide into the at'os!here than it could save. This is because countries li+e 8alaysia are cutting do*n vast tracts o$ rain$orests to gro* the cro!I not only endangering the $lora and $auna) but also releasing vast a'ounts o$ carbon dio@ide tra!!ed *ithin trees.

En light o$ the above) bio1diesel should not be loo+ed u!on as a re!lace'ent $or oil) but at 'ost) as a te'!orary 'easure $or a tide over to a 'ore sustainable $uture. 5lti'ately *e need to travel $ar less than *e !resently do i$ *e are to e@orcise the t*in de'ons o$ cli'ate change and !ea+ oil.

&ydroelectricity
%lo*ing *ater has been used to generate electricity since the ..0s and has been used to create 'echanical !o*er $or centuries be$ore that. Et is the 'ost advanced) e$$icient and i'!ortant rene*able source at the 'o'ent contributing to about 9L o$ the *orldMs electricity su!!ly. Et has a !otential o$ nearly $ive ti'es that $igure 1 including areas in Asia and A$rica. Although e@!ensive to construct) it is very chea! to 'aintain) store and release Huic+ly on de'and 1 a Huality $e* other energy sources have. The largest !o*er station today is the Etai!u !lant bet*een ,raDil and Paraguay) *ith a ca!acity o$ 2 7:1

23

ten ti'es that o$ a coal or nuclear station. Et is ho*ever not all1good ne*s. The da''ing o$ rivers can create 'any serious environ'ental !roble's and destroy valuable $ar'land) *hich is o$ten $ound in valleys. ?@isting inhabitants are o$ten $orced to 'ove and the colla!se o$ a da' or even release o$ *ater during heavy 'onsoon can !rove catastro!hic $or those living do*nstrea'. (a's too have a $inite li$eI their !er$or'ance begins to do*nslide in about 60 years caused by silting o$ the reservoir. This raises the reservoir bed) increases its area and inundates 'ore $ertile land. Rise in the bed level also reduces its ca!acity to hold *ater. :ater 'ay then have to be released during the 'onsoons) causing heavy $loods do*nstrea'. &ence) instead o$ controlling $loods) it 'ay beco'e the cause o$ 'ore $loodsJ Endian scientists in the 9-0s cautioned about this !ossibility *hen the $irst da's under (a'odar Valley Cor!oration =(VC> *ere !ro!osed. Today) 'any studies are available *hich !rove that the har' done by da's $ar e@ceed its bene$its. The actual !er$or'ances o$ 'ost da's are $ar belo* their designed ca!acities. Thus) *hile Endia is su!!osed to have huge !otential $or hydro electricity) there is *ides!read o!!osition to it. The <ar'ada ,achao Andolan =/ave <ar'ada 8ove'ent> is one such resistance. :hile a large nu'ber o$ da's are !ro!osed in the <orth ?ast and in 5ttara+hand) in the $ace o$ o!!osition and the econo'ic crisis) it is unli+ely any o$ these da's *ill ever be built.

:ind Po*er
:ind !o*er has seen the largest gro*th as an energy source in recent years. There are 'any advantages to *ind !o*er. 8ost countries have large areas *here *ind blo*s $airly reliably and stronger *inds can usually be harnessed by si'!ly building higher. They do not ta+e u! 'uch s!ace as the land beneath the turbines can be used $or $ar'ing or storage. The $uel $or the turbine is $ree and the environ'ental ill e$$ects li'ited *hen !laced in areas o$ lo* bird 'ove'ent. :ith a ty!ical 'odern *ind turbine) electricity *ould begin to be generated at a starting *ind s!eed o$ 'aybe 6.- '9s and the !o*er out!ut *ould increase *ith *ind s!eed until it reaches a 'a@i'u' o$ say 22- +: at 6 '9s. Any $urther increase in the *ind s!eeds beyond that *ould not !roduce any greater out!ut. %inally) there *ould be a 'a@i'u' s!eed) *here a$ter) the turbine *ould need to be !rotected to sto! it $ro' s!inning at dangerously high s!eeds. This 'ight be at about 2- '9s.) these high s!eeds are rarely reached. &o*ever) *ith 'a@i'u' ?R"E o$ only 2) *ind !o*er is neither chea! nor e$$icient. 24

Also s!ace reHuired $or generating !o*er $ro' *ind is very high. Et has li'ited use in s!eci$ic areas and its contribution to the total energy resource *ill be less than 0L. En Endia *hile the installed ca!acity o$ *ind !o*er has already e@ceeded nuclear !o*er) the actual out!ut a!!ears to be 'uch belo* design ca!acity.

/olar ?nergy
/olar energy is the acHuisition o$ heat or !o*er directly $ro' the rays o$ the /un) unli+e bio'ass and ground source heating *hich use the /un indirectly. =En the long ter') this indirect harvesting o$ the /un is the 'ost sustainable $or'>. The a'ount o$ sunlight $alling on any area o$ ground obviously de!ends on its location and the ti'e o$ year. As the /un does not shine at all at night in Endia and is 'uch *ea+er in the *inter *hen de'and is higher) 'assive batteries *ould be needed $or storage. Again s!ace reHuired $or solar !o*er generation is very high. <evertheless) solar can contribute signi$icantly to reducing energy needs and should not be overloo+ed. There are t*o *ays o$ using solar energy: solar heating and !hotovoltaic =PV>.

Solar Heating
The si'!lest and !ractical use o$ solar !o*er is the solar bo@ coo+er. :ith coo+ing gas su!!ly decreasing there *ill be tre'endous !ressure on the already delicate state o$ $ire*ood su!!ly. /olar coo+ers can su!!ly at least hal$ the energy reHuired $or coo+ing. Another si'ilar a!!lication is solar driers. They can be used $or drying a large variety o$ household necessities. #arger ones can be used $or drying *ood. /olar *ater heaters are another !o!ular use o$ solar heating. This usually involves !i!ing *ater through insulated bo@es) *hich have glass covers and the insides !ainted blac+. These act li+e M'ini1greenhousesMI heating *ater as it is !u'!ed through the bo@ =+no*n as a McollectorM>. This *ater is then used either directly or trans$ers its heat to the do'estic su!!ly. The heat generated is not li+ely to do a*ay *ith the need to use other $uels to heat *ater) es!ecially as there *ould be no solar in!ut during the night and !art o$ the dayti'e. <evertheless) it could be used to !re1heat do'estic *ater to a te'!erature o$ 6-XC or so) thereby reducing overall do'estic $uel bills. "n a larger scale) it is !ossible to use this !rinci!le to create a solar !o*er station. This *ould involve !ositioning hundreds o$ 'irrors to re$lect their radiation onto a boiler at the to! o$ a to*er. The liHuid in here is heated enough to generate stea' and turn turbines to generate electricity. Another o!tion is to create a tall hollo* to*er in the centre o$ a vast greenhouse. As the sun *ar's the air) it rises and turns turbines. These large1scale !o*er stations are still a rarity as they su$$er $ro' the sa'e !roble's o$ no /un at the night and little sun in the *inter. &o*ever) in sunnier cli'ates li+e Endia) Australia or Cali$ornia) they are li+ely to be 'ore use$ul.

25

Photo"oltaic 3P45 Photovoltaic +no*n to everybody $ro' solar cells in calculators turns the light o$ the
/un directly into electricity rather than via heat. &o*ever) a calculator uses very little !o*er. 7enerating enough electricity to 'a+e a signi$icant contribution to*ards illu'inating a house or o$$ice is another 'atter altogether. Enitial solar cells *ere only ;.-L e$$icient. They gre* to about -L in the 920s and are about 20L e$$icient no*. A sHuare 'eter on a sunny day *ould +ee! a 001*att light bulb going. At the 'o'ent) PV electricity is one o$ the 'ost e@!ensive o$ the rene*ables. Research on PV is long dra*nI solar cells reHuire !ure /ilicon *hich is e@!ensive to !roduce. #and reHuire'ent $or the !o*er !lants is large. <o doubt it *ill beco'e chea!er as !roduction increases and ne* cells are develo!ed. Et re'ains to be seen ho* signi$icant the contribution o$ this energy source *ill be. "n the *hole) !assive use o$ solar energy =solar coo+ers) driers and solar *ater heaters> *ill certainly gro*) *hereas generation o$ electricity *ill be li'ited. "ne reason being) the $or'er is a lo* technology !roduct and can be 'anu$actured locally. ?R"E $or solar !o*er generation is also belo* 2 and de'ands su!erior technology.

"ther /ources
Et is not !ossible to discus all the sources o$ alternatives. En general one can say three things about the'. 1. There 'ay be so'e *hich have real !otential. %or the' to beco'e viable ta+es about t*o decades. There are none such that are ready or in the !i!e line. 2. /o'e $all 'ore into the science $iction category. That is) a co'!etent grou! o$ scientists can sho* that such sources are unviable. 3. /o'e are !ure blu$$s or lies. These are used by B$ly by night o!eratorsA to $ool the !ublic *ith the connivance o$ govern'ent o$$icials to raise 'oney) and then *al+ a*ay *ith the 'oney by declaring that it *as not a viable !roject. The case o$ hydrogen $uel cells illustrates this very *ell. A $uel cell co'bines hydrogen and o@ygen and !roduces electricity and *ater. %or the last $e* decades this e'ission1 $ree hydrogen $uel cell *as held to be the solution. And yet today the verdict is B<either govern'ent !olicy nor business invest'ent should be based on the belie$ that hydrogen cars *ill have 'eaning$ul co''ercial success in the near or 'ediu'1ter'.A And) B$uel cells !rovide a 'ulti1decade lesson in high1tech hu'ilityA. The !roble' that never got solved *as to evolve a !ollution $ree source $or hydrogen itsel$. 8ost hydrogen today is obtained $ro' $ossil $uels. And yet) there are 'any co'!anies in the *orld that are surviving on govern'ent subsidies through $alse !ro'ises.

26

:e began by saying that) *e are used to a certain li$e styleA or as 7eorge ,ush said) B*e are addicted to oilA. Et is di$$icult to acce!t that all this *ill changeI that the era o$ industrialisation is over) and that) *e *ill have to live at a 'uch lo*er level o$ energy.A &o*ever) i$ *e re'ove the irrational use o$ energy then it is entirely !ossible to continue to have 'odern sensibilities and even Bco'$ortsA *ith alternative $or's o$ energy along *ith a judicious 'i@ o$ $ossil $uels in s'all Huantities. The 'ain !ur!ose o$ this essay is to !re!are a basis to acce!t the inevitability o$ the change. "nce *e acce!t thisI it 'ay be !ossible to !lan a transition that *ill be s'ooth and 'ay even be e@hilarating 1 as *e have seen in Cuba. %or a s'oother transition) one basic rule is that the transition be incre'ental. As a general !olicy *e can 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. /ay B<oA to every ne* coal) gas and nuclear energy !roject. Reduce energy consu'!tion through energy auditing. Reduce *aste due to BTrans'ission and (istributionA losses. (evelo! the alternatives K solar) *ind) *ood gassi$iers) 'icro hydel etc. to their $ull ca!acity. Concentrate on lo* !o*er local !rojects. Reduce consu'!tion o$ !etroleu' by using 'ore !ublic trans!ort and reducing !ersonal auto'obile trans!ort vehicles. Reduce use o$ $ossil $uel =#P7> in coo+ing by using solar coo+ers) bio gas and even *ood $uel. Change over to organic $ar'ing to reduce use o$ che'ical $ertiliDers and !esticides. "n the *hole 'ove to*ards using 'uch less net energy in a 'ore eHuitable $ashion.

7iven the !resent social syste') the rich and !o*er$ul have a greater resistance to change and they *ill continue to carry on the irrational social) !olitical and econo'ic syste'. The reality ho*ever is that) technological $i@es alone do not solve !roble's. The solution *ill have to be holistic and *ill be carried out by the victi's o$ the !resent syste') that is) the *or+ing !eo!le. "nly the organised *or+ing !eo!le *ith a rational !lan can bring about such a transition. %or this) !eo!lesA struggles against ineHuity and injustice *ill have to continue and at the sa'e ti'e an i'!le'entable !lan $or a rational $ossil $uel $ree society *ill have to be e@ecuted. The incre'ental changes 'entioned !reviously can only be carried out in the conte@t o$ such struggles and !lans.

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:&?R? (" :? :A<T T" 7"F

:hat *ill be the alternative vision $or a !ost industrial9ca!italist societyF The do'inant alternative in the 20th century *as 8ar@is'. Today it !robably *ill be a synthesis o$ 8ar@ist and Anarchist visions enriched by ecological) $e'inist) regional) ethnic and host o$ conte'!orary !eo!leAs 'ove'ent. The technological basis $or such a society *ill be based on 'ainly harvesting the /unAs energy biologically. To day Cuba !rovides a living e@a'!le o$ the transition to such a society.

28

T&? VE/E"< %"R A %"//E# %5?# %R?? /"CE?TY

Critics o$ Ca!italis'
The events o$ the !ast have sho*n that ca!italis') as a syste') is the 'ain cause o$ the !resent crisis o$ global *ar'ing and other related crises. Et is also e'!irically evident that *ithin ca!italis' no alternatives *ill *or+. E$ the burning o$ $ossil $uels causes global *ar'ing) then the alternative 'ust be a $ossil $uel $ree society. &o* does one go about itF As Albert ?instein once said) OYou cannot solve a !roble' *ith the sa'e 'indset that caused itP. The 'indset that caused global *ar'ing is ca!italis' or 'ore generally industrialis'. This 'indset is a !roduct o$ the Endustrial Revolution) *hich a'ong other things) believed in conHuest o$ nature. /o any solution o$$ered *ithin this syste' *ill $ail. &ence there cannot be a solution *ithin the ca!italist syste'. %ro' the very beginning there have been critics o$ ca!italis') both *ithin the Endustrial Revolution 'indset as *ell as outside o$ it. A'ong the $or'er the 'ost i'!ortant o$ course is the 8ar@ist tradition. Although both 8ar@ and ?ngels had 'any dee! insights into the ecological da'age done by ca!italis') they *ere not o!!osed to industrialis' and B!rogressA as such. :hile their vie* 'ay not hel! us $or an alternative vision) their vie* on *ho *ill carry out the change) na'ely the !roletariat) cannot be rejected. Et is the victi's *ho have a 'a@i'u' sta+e in change and there$ore the victi's o$ global *ar'ing) the !oor and o!!ressed o$ the *orld) through their organisations li+e trade unions) !easant associations and a *ide variety o$ !eo!leAs organisations *ill !lay a crucial role in bringing about a trans$or'ation.

The Visionaries
%or the vision $or a $ossil $uel $ree society) *e 'ay need to loo+ at other traditions. These visionaries *ere not so'e *ooly headed !eo!le living in a drea' *orld) 'oving around *ith long beards and living an undisci!lined li$e *ithout care. They *ere highly re!uted !ro$essionals) *ell established in the 'ainstrea' and through their !ractice $ound a critiHue o$ their $ields and established ne* and alternative disci!lines. Their vision does not actually use the *ords B$ossil $uel $ree societyA. This is a *ider vision o$ an alternative society) *hich a'ong other things) *ill be based on lo* energy consu'!tion. /uch a tradition *ould include Thoreau =:alden>) Tolstoy =The 4ingdo' o$ 7od is :ithin You> 4ro!ot+in =%ields) %actories and :or+sho!s>) 7andhi =&ind /*araj>) Albert &o*ard =An Agricultural Testa'ent>) 8asanobu %u+uo+a ="ne /tra* Revolution>)

29

/chu'acher =/'all is ,eauti$ul> and Patric+ 7eddes =Patric+ 7eddes in Endia>. Their boo+s 'entioned in brac+ets are e@tre'ely i'!ortant !ath brea+ing *or+s. A brie$ descri!tion o$ these boo+s and authors is !rovided in the a!!endi@. 8ainstrea' critics call this tradition as Bro'anticA and in $act) Tolstoy did say) A&o* can there be ro'ance *ith electricityFA ,ut !robably) a 'ore accurate descri!tion o$ this tradition is BPaci$ist Anarchis'A) though !robably e@ce!t 4ro!ot+in none o$ the' called the'selves OanarchistPI but then) 4ro!ot+in *as not a !aci$istJ Anarchis' has a large nu'ber o$ di$$erent variations and it is di$$icult to de$ine it. &o*ever in general: . They are anti state. BThe /tate has never been good to !oor and never *ill beP. At best they *ould consent to having a 'ini'al s'all state *ielding lo* !olitical !o*er. 2. They believed in $reedo') co1o!eration and 'utual aid rather than co'!etition. Their 'otto: a $ree association o$ $ree !eo!le. They believed in s'all co''unities $ederated *ith other si'ilar co''unities. 6. As a rule they believed in BRes!ect $or <atureA and not in BConHuest o$ <atureA. Their a!!roach *as dee!ly ecological. Thoreau) 4ro!ot+in and Tolstoy laid the $oundation o$ a !o*er$ul critic o$ ca!italist and industrial society and *ere the !rinci!al visionaries $or an alternative anarchist society. ?ach re!resented a di$$erent !ers!ective. Thoreau e'!hasiDed the i'!ortance o$ sel$1 reliance) solitude) conte'!lation and closeness to nature in transcending the crass e@istence that is su!!osedly the lot o$ 'ost hu'ans. 4ro!ot+inMs e'!hasis *as on local organisation) local !roduction) obviating the need $or central govern'ent. 4ro!ot+inMs e'!hasis is also on agriculture and rural li$e. Tolstoy s!ea+s o$ the !rinci!le o$ non1 resistance *hen con$ronted by violence and advocates non1violence as a solution to nationalist *oes. &o*ever it *as 7andhi *ho translated 'any o$ these conce!ts into action $irst in /outh A$rica and later in Endia. &is in$luence s!read $ar and *ide. 8artin #uther 4ing and <elson 8andela are so'e o$ the i'!ortant e@a'!les o$ his reach beyond Endian shores. 7andhi *as *ell a*are o$ the *ritings o$ Thoreau) 4ro!ot+in and Tolstoy and even corres!onded *ith Tolstoy. &e blended his o*n uniHue vision in the boo+let &ind /*araj. /*araj is a +ind o$ Endividualist Anarchis'. Et *arrants a /tateless society) as according to 7andhi the overall i'!act o$ the /tate on the !eo!le is har'$ul. &e called the /tate a Qsoulless 'achineQ *hich) ulti'ately) does the greatest har' to 'an+ind. QEt is /*araj *hen *e learn to rule ourselves.Q The boo+let is a severe conde'nation o$ B'odern civilisationA. &e *as eHually critical o$ 'odern technology and its BcraDe $or labour saving 'achineryA1 the i'!etus behind *hich is not !hilanthro!y to save labour but greed. &e advocated sel$1su$$icient villages based on rural industry. &e had an integral and holistic vie* o$ agriculture) ani'al !o*er) industry) education and health care. Today the !roble's arising $ro' industrialisation and its reliance on $ossil $uels have sho*n his ideas to be $ar sighted and !ossibly a!!ro!riate $or the !ost $ossil $uel age. Around the sa'e ti'e) there *ere others *ho *ere also e@!ounding si'ilar ideas in

30

s!eci$ic $ields both in theory and !ractice. En agriculture) it *as /ir Albert &o*ard) the $ather o$ organic $ar'ing 'ove'ent) 8asanobu %u+uo+a o$ B<atural %ar'ingA $a'e and Patric+ 7eddes in to*n !lanning. ?. %. /chu'acher gave a critiHue o$ econo'ics and 7ross <ational Product =7<P> and develo!ed conce!ts o$ hu'an level s'all and a!!ro!riate technologies.

The Vision
E$ *e ta+e all these authors collectively) their *or+ and ideas o$$er a !o*er$ul critiHue o$ industrialis' and ca!italis' and !rovide an alternate vision. 4ro!ot+in) 7andhi) &o*ard and %u+uo+a also o$$er a very concrete *ay o$ ho* to go about things. "ne co''on thread that runs through all o$ the' is a strong ethical attitude. 4ro!ot+in *as called BAn atheist saintA. 7andhi is $a'ous $or his) BThe earth can !rovide $or everybodyAs needs but not $or their greedA and so on. <eedless to say) they had countless $ollo*ers both a'ong *or+ing !eo!le as *ell as !ro$essionals) social scientists and artists. /o *hy did they not succeed or *hy did ca!italis' triu'!h in s!ite o$ the'F A short ans*er is: they *ere ahead o$ their ti'es. The 'aterial basis o$ ca!italis' i.e. concentrated source o$ energy resource li+e coal and oil a!!eared ine@haustible. The trade union 'ove'ent *as able to *rest so'e bene$its $or itsel$ in the 'idst o$ this !hase. Today several crises o$ ca!italis' have co'e together and are $eeding into each other. These are global *ar'ing) !ea+ oil) $ood !roduction !ea+ing) inter1i'!erialist contradictions escalating) and the anti1i'!erialists struggles 1 both at organised level as *ell as large s'all scale 'ove'ents all over the *orld. The era o$ industrialis' is co'ing to an end. The colla!se o$ the ca!italist syste' does not auto'atically bring a ne* society. %or e@a'!le in 8yan'ar =$or'erly ,ur'a> ,ur'a /hell too+ its last dro! o$ oil 'ore than si@ty years ago leaving an e'!ty A/hellA behind. ,ut even today) ,ur'a is in *ilderness. <earer ho'e) ca!ital $le* $ro' :est ,engal in the 20s and 00s. The #e$t %ront instead o$ $ollo*ing CubaAs e@a'!le) *hich it ad'ires) is bent on bringing ca!italis' bac+ at any costJ Today *e $ace three tas+s. %irst) is to articulate clearly the vision $or a $ossil $uel $ree society in its entirety. Then engage *ith *or+ers unions and other 'ass organisations to evolve a concrete !rogra''e. 5nless the ideas are gri!!ed by the 'asses) they *ill not) as 8ao has said) beco'e a 'aterial $orce. The !rogra''e should give a concrete activity at the organised level as *ell as an ethical base $or an individual and a s'all grou! to live and act. Thirdly *e have to continue the struggle against da'ages ca!italis' continues cause) such as big da's) ther'al !o*er !lants) ne* 'ining leases $or coal and iron) /?Ns and so on. These struggles *ill be e'!o*ered by a !ositive vision o$ the $uture.

:hat *ould a %ossil %uel %ree /ociety loo+ li+eF

Et is neither !ossible nor desirable to synthesiDe the vie*s o$ these great !eo!le 'entioned above. Et is best that *e read the' in their o*n *ords and absorb *hat *e 31

need. #et there be diversity. &o*ever they do !rovide a basis $or a $e* !rinci!les and hel! us to visualiDe *hat the $uture society 'ay loo+ li+e. Et is o$ course di$$icult to !redict the $uture. :e can only have drea's and visions about it. "ne *ay to begin is by addressing the Huestion: *hat *ould *e li+e it to beF And then ta+e the discussion to*ards *hat its i'!lications *ould be $or todayAs society. A $e* non negotiable guide lines to build on could be: . &u'an beings are a !art o$ natureI they have to live *ith it and not o$$ it. 2. :ithin hu'an societies there should be eHuity. 6. Resist the sche'e o$ centralised !olitical !o*er being in the hands o$ a $e*I !articularly that o$ the state and govern'ent. At best) a 'ini'al s'all state. ;. /'all sel$1'anaged societies based on the !rinci!le o$ Ba $ree association o$ $ree !eo!leA. -. The technological base o$ such a society *ill be to 'ove to*ards ecologically sound !rocesses li+e organic $ar'ing) hu'ane use o$ do'esticated ani'als in $ar'ing !ractices) leather and *ood as 'ain ra* 'aterials etc. 1 not at all i'!lying the co'!lete abandon o$ 'odern sensibilities) scienti$ic and technological advances. 2. The 'ain agenda $or hu'anity $or the ne@t thirty years or so *ill be to restore the earthAs ecological health that has been so severely da'aged by ca!italistic a!!roaches. 0. A holistic a!!roach to health) education) culture and sciences. They should be integrated *ith the 'ain agenda o$ the society *hile 'aintaining a creative diversity o$ a!!roaches.

Possible Reorientations
. Ad'inistratively 'anageable regional reorientation on the basis o$ ecological9bio1 geogra!hic) cultural and linguistic =dialect> considerations such as Telengana) Vidarbha) 8al*a) ,undel+hand) A*adh) ,hoj!ur etc. As an e@ercise) one can list nearly 00 such regions *ithin the Endian subcontinent. 2. The above could be $ederated regionally) again) as large bio1geogra!hic regions such as the (eccan) :estern 7hats) 7angetic Plains) <orth1?ast Endia etc. These 'ay be $urther $ederated *ithin even larger land'asses such as /outh Asia. There are already !recedents in this direction 1 the /ARCC countries) ?uro!ean 5nion etc. 1 *ith coo!erative and collaborative endeavoursI even though ecological concerns and sustainability 'ay not have been their co''on starting !oint. 6. :hile there *ill be rural and urban centers) there *ill be continuity. Rural regions *ill have urban $acilities and urban areas *ill not be just concrete jungles. Et *ill be so'ething li+e !arts o$ !resent day 4erala. ;. 5rban Centres: ?ach o$ these ad'inistratively inde!endent entities *ould have a $e* large and s'all urban centers *ith a !o!ulation o$ 0)000 to - la+hs. They *ill have institutions $or acade'ic !ursuits) research) so!histicated health services) art and cultural centers) in$rastructure $acility $or s'all industrial enter!rises related to $ood !rocessing)

32

housing) clothing) building 'aterial etc. 8uch o$ the industrial activity *ould be related to recycling and 'aintenance. "ne o$ the 'ain activities *ould be segregating *aste at source and recycling o$ urban solid *aste. The bul+ o$ *hich) being biodegradable *ould be 'ade into co'!ost to $eed into urban vegetable and $ruit gro*ing $ar's and gardens. Thus the cities *ould be Bgarden citiesA !roducing their o*n vegetables and $ruits. 8any 'odern as!ects o$ li$e *ill re'ain) such as !hones and internet) o!erating on e$$icient use o$ energy $ro' rene*able sources. -. ,ul+ o$ the co''unity *ould co'!rise o$ sel$1su$$icient natural9organic $ar'ers) artisans and s+illed !ersonnel !roviding ancillary services to a $ar' based econo'y. Endustry and services *ould be in the areas o$ health care) education) $ood !rocessing) ani'al husbandry) leather *or+) car!entry) s'ithy) 'etal cra$ts) te@tiles) tailoring) hair dressing) s!orts) entertain'ent the arts etc. /chool) library and cultural centers *ould be a $acility $or all children and adults. They *ill be geared to the i''ediate agenda o$ restoring ecological stability. 2. There *ould be a 'ajor *orld*ide conservation !roject to save the $lora and $auna that has been on the verge o$ e@tinction. This *ould be done !rinci!ally through restoration o$ habitat by releasing 'ore land to $orests.

Changes that 'ay occur

8any things that *e ta+e today as given 'ay not be there in a $ossil $uel $ree society. (e'ands have been 'ade in the !ast and the !resent by individuals and 'ass 'ove'ents $or such a change. Ta+en together) it 'ay be di$$icult to acce!t the' allI also) there is al*ays a Huantu' o$ resistance to change. . To begin *ith) one can see 'ove'ents) negotiations) ca'!aigns) agitations) de'ands etc. $or s'aller less !o*er$ul states. "n the other hand are continued instances o$ resistance and o!!osition to 'ega states *ith !o*er$ul ar'ies) *ea!onry) ca!italistic econo'ies etc. ,y i'!lication) there is an o!!osition to ar'a'ent industry and *ea!ons o$ nuclear *ar$are. 2. #i+e*ise) *ith $ossil $uels de!leting) the auto'obile industry *ould have to scale do*n) $or) there is really no e$$ective solution $or auto'obiles. Enstead) !ublic trans!ort such as buses) tra's and rail*ays *ould gain !ractical signi$icance. This *ould be cou!led *ith bicycles) cycle ric+sha*s) horse and don+ey carts etc. "ne great bene$it *ould be that) air !ollution *ill reduce drastically. 6. &o!e$ully) alcoholis') use o$ narcotics and tobacco *ould beco'e negligible since !art o$ the reason $or large1scale addiction is alienation in a ca!italist society. ;. :ith better and healthier $ood) cleaner environ'ent and a less stress$ul li$eI the need $or health care services 1 *hich is the second largest industry today 1 *ould reduce drastically.

33

-. As a co'bined e$$ect o$ $ar'ing *ith organic 'ethods and reduced availability o$ !etroche'icals) the che'ical $ertiliser and !esticide industry *ould di'inish signi$icantly. ,io1$ertilisers and bio1!est controllers *ill beco'e 'ore !o!ular. "n the *hole less o$ even these *ould be reHuired. 2. Co''ercial agriculture *ould be reduced and 'ore land *ill be released $or $orestry and co''unity co''on use. Cotton *ould be the 'ain non1$ood cro! and sugarcane cultivation *ill decrease. 0. Petroche'ical industry as a *hole *ill be reduced considerably and *e *ill be rid o$ the 'enace o$ !lastic bags all across the urban landsca!e. .. The need $or !o*er industry *ould reduce as ar'a'ent and large govern'ents consu'e a lot o$ irrational !o*er. The reduced !o*er need could be 'et *ith largely by decentralised !o*er sources such as solar) *ind and 'ini1hydel !rojects. They could) ho*ever be cou!led *ith a s'all 'i@ o$ coal and oil energy. #arge 'ega !o*er !rojects) *hich are dangerous to ecosyste' and are very heavily !olluting *ould gradually vanish. 9. The de'and $or iron and steel industry *ould also co'e do*n. A lot o$ recycling o$ e@isting but no longer use$ul iron and steel eHui!'ent and 'achinery *ill beco'e i'!ortant. 0. The de'and $or 'inerals *ould also decrease. <o 'ajor ne* 'ining !rojects *ould co'e and so'e o$ the e@isting 'ines *ould be e@hausted and close do*n. 8ining *ater through dee! tube *ells *ould co'e do*n drastically. :ater conservation and rain *ater harvesting *ill beco'e i'!ortant. 0. &igher education and research *ould be ai'ed at restoring ecological balances. Thus there *ould be e@tensive good research in soil $ertility) bio !est controllers) $orestry) river syste's) ecology) air strea's etc. Research and develo!'ent o$ alternative rene*able sources o$ energy and lo* energy nano technology *ould also !lay a very crucial role. %unda'ental research in sciences as *ell as in hu'anities *ould $acilitate in the develo!'ent o$ these conce!ts.

Resistance to change
<or'ally resistance to change a'ong ordinary !eo!le di'inishes *ith ti'e) non1 availability and *ith ne* generation. &o*ever this does not ha!!en *ith !eo!le in !o*er. They o!!ose it *ith !o*er. :hat it 'eans is that !o*er$ul classes and nations *ill continue in their old *ays. The scra'ble $or de!leting resources o$ oil and 'inerals *ill continue to lead to s'all and big *ars. Et can also lead to a *orld *ar +ind o$ situation) *hich) this ti'e around) *ith nuclear) che'ical and biological *ea!ons can destroy al'ost all living beings. /o *e cannot slac+en in our e@isting 'ove'ents o$ anti*ar) antinuclear *ea!ons and energy) o!!osition to 'ega da's and !olluting !o*er and other industries. <or should *e $orget the daily struggle o$ billions o$ !eo!le just to survive. (uring the transition !eriod these struggles *ill be even 'ore !ain$ul. :e *ill

34

$ace job losses) 'alnutrition) hunger) illnesses) suicides and so on. :hat *e need to do is to strengthen all these struggles and 'ass organisations li+e *or+er unions) !easant associations and other civil society organisations and engage *ith the' on the the'es o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society. This is one individualAs) that is) 'y drea'. E invite you to join 'e both in *or+ing to*ards the dis'antling o$ ca!italis' as *ell as to drea' on your o*n.

35

A!!endi@ T&? VE/E"<ARE?/

6alden by Henry 2a"id 7horeau 3(*(89(*:+5 !ublished in .-;) e'!hasiDes the i'!ortance o$ sel$1reliance) solitude) conte'!lation) and closeness to nature in transcending the crass e@istence that is su!!osedly the lot o$ 'ost hu'ans. 6alden is neither a novel nor a true autobiogra!hy) but a social critiHue o$ the :estern :orld) *ith each cha!ter heralding so'e as!ect o$ hu'anity that needed to be either renounced or !raised. Fields# Factories and 6orkshops is a land'ar+ anarchist te@t by Peter Kropotkin 3(*;+9 ()+(5) and arguably one o$ the 'ost in$luential and !ositive state'ents o$ the anarchist !olitical !osition. &is ins!iration has !er'eated into the 20th and 2 st centuries as a lasting vision o$ a 'ore har'onious *ay o$ living $or a ne* *orld. To a large degree 4ro!ot+inMs e'!hasis is on local organisation) local !roduction obviating the need $or centralised govern'ents. 4ro!ot+inMs vision is also on agriculture and rural li$e) 'a+ing it a contrasting !ers!ective to the largely industrial thin+ing o$ co''unists and socialists. &is $ocus on local !roduction leads to his vie* that a country should 'anu$acture its o*n goods and gro* its o*n $ood) 'a+ing i'!ort and e@!ort unnecessary. To these ends he advocated irrigation $or boosting local $ood !roduction ability. Critics say he is rather o!ti'istic in his *or+s) ho*ever the !roble's arising $ro' industrialisation and its reliance on $ossil $uels has sho*n his ideas to be $ar sighted and !ossibly a!!ro!riate $or the !ost $ossil $uel age. 7he Kingdom of God is 6ithin <ou) the non1$iction 'agnu' o!us o$ =eo 7olstoy 3(*+*9 ()(,5# is the cul'ination o$ thirty years o$ TolstoyMs Christian thin+ing. Et lays out a road'a! $or a ne* organisation o$ society based on literal Christian inter!retations. Tolstoy ta+es the vie*!oint on QThou shalt not 'urderQ literally and there$ore that all govern'ents *ho *age *ar are directly a$$ronting the Christian !rinci!les that should guide all li$e. En the boo+ Tolstoy s!ea+s o$ the !rinci!le o$ non1resistance *hen con$ronted by violence) as taught by 3esus. &e advocates non1violence as a solution to nationalist *oes and as a 'eans $or seeing the hy!ocrisy o$ the church. These *ords had !ro$ound in$luence on 8ahat'a 7andhi. &e *rote in his autobiogra!hy 7he Story of My 0!periments with 7ruth# that this boo+ Qover*hel'edQ hi' and Qle$t an abiding i'!ressionQ. 7andhi listed TolstoyMs boo+) as one o$ the 'ost i'!ortant 'odern in$luences in his li$e. %or Endians) Gandhi 3(*:)9();*5 and his boo+let Hind Swara> i''ediately co'e to 'ind. Et is a 'ani$esto) *hich is) at once a critiHue o$ B?nglish civilisationA =industrial society> and a !rogra''e $or rebuilding Endia. The boo+let is a severe conde'nation o$ B'odern civilisationA. &e *as eHually critical o$ 'odern technology and its BcraDe $or labour saving 'achineryA) the i'!etus behind *hich is not the !hilanthro!y to save labour but greed. &e advocated sel$1su$$icient villages based on rural industry. &e had an integral and holistic vie* o$ agriculture) ani'al !o*er) industry) education and health care. Today the !roble's arising $ro' industrialisation and its reliance on $ossil $uels 36

have sho*n his ideas to be $ar sighted and !ossibly a!!ro!riate $or the !ost1$ossil $uel age. /*araj is a +ind o$ Endividualist Anarchis'. Et advocates a stateless society) as according to 7andhi the overall i'!act o$ the state on the !eo!le is har'$ul. &e called the state a Qsoulless 'achineQ *hich) ulti'ately) does the greatest har' to 'an+ind. Ado!ting /*araj 'eans i'!le'enting a syste' *hereby state 'achinery is virtually non e@istent and the real !o*er directly resides in the hands o$ !eo!le. 7andhi said) BPo*er resides in the !eo!le) they can use it at any ti'e.A This !hiloso!hy rests inside an individual *ho has to learn to be 'aster o$ his o*n sel$ and s!reads u!*ards to the level o$ his co''unity *hich 'ust be de!endent only on itsel$. BEt is /*araj *hen *e learn to rule ourselves.A 7andhi *as undaunted by the tas+ o$ i'!le'enting such a uto!ian vision in Endia. &e believed that by trans$or'ing enough individuals and co''unities) society at large *ould change. &e said) BEt 'ay be taunted *ith the retort that this is all 5to!ian and) there$ore not *orth a single thought... #et Endia live $or the true !icture) though never realisable in its co'!leteness. :e 'ust have a !ro!er !icture o$ *hat *e *ant be$ore *e can have so'ething a!!roaching it.A 1n 1gricultural 7estament by Sir 1lbert Howard 3(*8?9();85) $irst !ublished in 9;0) is credited by so'e *ith launching the organic $ar'ing agricultural 'ove'ent. Et $ocuses on the nature and 'anage'ent o$ soil $ertility) and notably) e@!lores co'!osting. At a ti'e *hen 'odern) che'ical1based industrialised agriculture *as just beginning to radically alter $ood !roduction) it advocated natural !rocesses rather than 'an1'ade in!uts as the su!erior a!!roach to $ar'ing. En 92;) he set u! the Endore Enstitute o$ Plant Endustry at Endore in central Endia. &ere he develo!ed the conce!ts o$ <atureAs %ar'ing. &e argued that since natural ecosyste's are stable over long !eriods o$ ti'e) in $ar'ing too) *e should i'itate as $ar as !ossible the local natural ecosyste'. &e observed $our !rinci!les in nature: . 8i@ed cro!!ing is the ruleI 2. The soil is al*ays !rotected $ro' the direct action o$ sun) rain and *indI 6. The $orest 'anures itsel$I ;. Cro!s and livestoc+ loo+ a$ter the'selves. 7andhi *as a*are o$ his *or+ and visited hi' in Endore. &e re*rote his !a'!hlet on co'!osting and !ublished it in the Hari>an% "ne o$ 7andhiAs co1*or+ers) 8ira ,en) devoted her li$e to !o!ularising co'!osting 'ethods in re'ote Endian villages based on &o*ardAs *or+. Masanobu Fukuoka# 3()(?9+,,*5) author o$ 7he 'ne9Straw /e"olution) 7he /oad Back to .ature and 7he .atural 6ay 'f Farming) is one o$ the !ioneers o$ no1till grain cultivation. %u+uo+a !ractised a syste' o$ $ar'ing he re$ers to as Bnatural $ar'ingA. Although so'e o$ his !ractices are s!eci$ic to 3a!an) the governing !hiloso!hy o$ his 'ethod has success$ully been a!!lied around the *orld. En Endia) natural $ar'ing is o$ten re$erred to as BRishi 4hetiA. The essence o$ %u+uo+aMs 'ethod is to re!roduce natural conditions as closely as !ossible. Q<atural $ar'ing is not just $or gro*ing cro!s) it is $or the cultivation and !er$ection o$ hu'an beings.Q

37

Small @s Beautiful by 0% F% Schumacher 3()((9()885# originally !ublished in 906 is a collection o$ essays that brought /chu'acherMs ideas to a *ider audience) at a critical ti'e in history. /chu'acherMs *or+ coincided *ith the gro*th o$ ecological concerns and *ith the birth o$ environ'entalis' and he beca'e a hero to 'any in the environ'ental 'ove'ent. En the $irst cha!ter 1 The Proble' o$ Production) /chu'acher !oints out that our econo'y is unsustainable. The natural resources =es!ecially $ossil $uels>) are treated as e@!endable inco'es) *hen in $act they should be treated as ca!ital) since they are not rene*able and thus subject to eventual de!letion. &e $urther !oints out that) si'ilarly) the ca!acity o$ nature to resist !ollution is li'ited as *ell. /chu'acherMs !hiloso!hy is a !hiloso!hy o$ enoughness) a!!reciating both hu'an needs and li'itations) and a!!ro!riate use o$ technology. Et gre* out o$ his study o$ village1based econo'ics) *hich he later ter'ed B,uddhist ?cono'ics.A &e $aults conventional econo'ic thin+ing $or $ailing to consider the 'ost a!!ro!riate scale $or an activity) blasts notions that Bgro*th is goodA) and that Bbigger is betterA) and Huestions the a!!ro!riateness o$ using 'ass !roduction in develo!ing countriesI !ro'oting instead) B!roduction by the 'assesA. /chu'acher *as one o$ the $irst econo'ists to Huestion the a!!ro!riateness o$ using 7ross <ational Product =7<P> to 'easure hu'an *ell being) e'!hasising that Bthe ai' ought to be to obtain the 'a@i'u' a'ount o$ *ell being *ith the 'ini'u' a'ount o$ consu'!tion.A Patrick Geddes in @ndia is a collection o$ e@cer!ts o$ *ritings o$ Patrick Geddes 3(*A;9 ()?+5 *hile he *as in Endia. &e *as a /cottish to*n !lanner and *as in Endia bet*een 9 - and 9 9. En 7eddesAs *ords OTo*n1!lanning is not 'ere to*n !lanning) not even *or+ !lanning. E$ it is to be success$ul) it 'ust be) $ol+ !lanning. 7eddes advocates tree !lanting K es!ecially $ruit yielding trees and vegetable gardens as integral to to*n !lanning. BE insist that an enor'ous !ro!ortion o$ the diseases o$ children and o$ 'en and *o'en1*ould disa!!ear i$ there *ere a substantial increase o$ $resh vegetables and $ruits in their diet. %urther) everyone +no*s that the 'ost destructive o$ the diseases o$ Endia are diseases o$ the ali'entary canal and that these diseases are co''unicated in t*o *ays) by dust and by !olluted *ater. These !lanting !ro!osals *ould greatly di'inish both the dis!ersal o$ dust and the !ollution o$ *ater.A There are three central the'es in 7eddes *or+. %irst is BRes!ect $or <atureA. &is a!!roach is dee!ly ecological e'!hasising a cityAs relationshi! to its *ater resources) the !ro'otion o$ !ar+s and trees) the i'!ortance o$ recycling) and the lessening o$ de!endence on the resources o$ the hinterland. The second the'e is BRes!ect $or (e'ocracyA. &e insisted that the residents o$ a city 'ust hel! design !lans 'ade $or the'. The third the'e is BRes!ect $or tradition) Ba!!reciation o$ all that is best in the old do'estic architecture o$ Endian cities and o$ rene*ing it *hen it has $allen a*ayA.

38

<?7ATEV? ?<TR"PY A<( /5/TAE<A,E#ETY technology choice for a fossil fuel free society

The 'ost $unda'ental technological basis o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society is harvesting the /unAs energy biologically. The theoretical issues o$ entro!y and negative entro!y are !resented here. "nly the e@a'!le o$ agriculture *ill be ta+en u!) though other areas such as energy) housing) trans!ort etc. are eHually i'!ortant. Et is not as i$ in a $ossil $uel $ree society other sources o$ energy *ill not be used at all. &arnessing direct heat $ro' the /un itsel$ is a di$$erent !rocess) that is) it is not harvested biologically. 5se o$ hydro!o*er in the $or' o$ *ater 'ills or use o$ gravity in directing *ater $lo*s is another e@a'!le. ?ven 'etals and $ossil $uels 'ay be in use in a li'ited *ay. :hen !eo!le tal+ o$ $ossil $uel $ree society or sustainability) o$ten ter's li+e eco1$riendly technologies) a!!ro!riate technologies using hu'an and ani'al !o*er and so on are used. Critics o$ten in$er to this as tal+ing o$ going bac+ to nature) being !ri'itive) unscienti$ic and as i'!ossibility. This article atte'!ts to !rovide logic $or eco1$riendly) a!!ro!riate technologies using hu'an and ani'al !o*er.

?ntro!y
En 'any !rocesses in 'odern technology) $or e@a'!le) in the conversion o$ energy $ro' one $or' to another) the net availability o$ energy decreases. This decrease o$ available energy is called entro!y. B?ntro!y is a 'easure o$ that !art o$ the ther'al energy o$ a closed syste' that is not available $or conversion into 'echanical *or+. The la* o$ entro!y is +no*n as the second la* o$ ther'odyna'ics. The second la* holds that the entro!y o$ the 5niverse invariably increases *ith every trans$er o$ energy event. There is al*ays so'e a'ount o$ energy that is trans$or'ed into an unusable or unavailable $or' o$ energy.A Et is on this !rinci!le that engines *or+. All such !rocesses have e$$iciencies less than one. That is) the net out!ut energy is al*ays less than in!ut. As a rule entro!y) that is) the unusable or unavailable $or' o$ energy is increasing. :e are 'oving $ro' organiDation to disorganiDation or $ro' order to disorder. The entro!y o$ a closed syste' tends to get higher as ti'e !rogresses because disorganiDation increases. The la* o$ entro!y is considered to be a basic la* o$ nature and the 5niverse.

39

<egative ?ntro!y
&o*ever) living things a!!ear to behave in a di$$erent 'anner. All living things atte'!t to 'odi$y their environ'ent $or their o*n needs) by creating *hat $or the' is order. En 9;6) ?r*in /chrYdinger) <obel #aureate in Physics) used the conce!t o$ Bnegative entro!yA in his boo+ B:hat is li$eFA This boo+ *as *ritten $or the lay'an. Today it ran+s a'ong the 'ost in$luential boo+s o$ scienti$ic *riting o$ t*entieth century. Et *as one o$ the s!urs to the birth o$ 'olecular biology and the subseHuent discovery o$ the structure o$ (<A. Et attracted 'any scientists to biology. The creation o$ order is one de$inition o$ negative entro!y. "ne o$ the de$initions o$ li$e 'ight be the ability o$ li$e $or' to create order. A living syste' i'!orts negative entro!y and stores it. #i$e $eeds on negative entro!yJ Roc+s or other inani'ate objects do not !ossess this !ro!erty called negative entro!y. (eath 'ight be de$ined as the inability o$ a living thing to continue to create negative entro!y $or its use. As long as a li$e $or' e@ists) it creates negative entro!y) *hich *e observe as the creation o$ order. :hat is the source o$ negative entro!yF The /unAs energy is highly organiDed and carried by !hotons. "ur ,ios!here absorbs this energy and then releases it bac+ to the 5niverse 1the global balance o$ energy is Dero. The blac+ body radiation o$ the /un at a te'!erature o$ -.00 degrees 4elvin is absorbed by the ,ios!here and the blac+ body radiation $ro' the ,ios!here and ?arth at 2.0 degrees 4elvin $lo*s to the 5niverse) *hich is at a te'!erature o$ 6 degrees 4elvin. &o* does li$e steal energy $ro' the /unF This is done through a !rocess called !hotosynthesis. En this !rocess the green 'atter =chloro!hyll> in !lants converts the /unAs energy to usable energy $or the !lant gro*th. &erbivores and carnivores sustain and re!roduce the'selves by using the /unAs energy through !lants. This !rocess is not available to non1living things. Thus) biological !rocesses creating negative entro!y) unli+e the 'echanical !rocesses) !roduce 'ore energy than they ta+e. The e$$iciency is al*ays greater than one. Ty!ically it is about 2.- =this does not violate the la* o$ conservation o$ energy 1 the rest co'es $ro' the /un>. That is $or one unit o$ energy =calories> in!ut) say in a B!ri'itiveA sustainable $ar' in the $or' o$ hu'an and ani'al energyI *e get t*o calories o$ consu'able energy out!utJ &o* do *e get this 'ore out!ut $ro' less in!utF As *e said above) *e are not counting the in!ut $ro' the /un K either $or 'echaniDed or traditional agriculture. Co'!are this *ith A'erican BagribusinessA) *hich in 902 too+ - calories o$ $ertiliDers) tractor $uel and de!reciation) hu'an labour and che'ical s!rays to !roduce one calorie o$ $ood and an incredible e@tra 20 calories o$ energy K all $ro' $ossil $uels 1 to clean) !ac+age) trans!ort and coo+ the $ood ready $or eating in the city. Thus the !ri'itive sel$1

40

su$$icient !easant li$e is about -0 ti'es 'ore e$$icient than industrialised $ood !roduction. The reason being) !ri'itive agriculture uses 'ainly biological or li$e !rocesses *hich have nor'ally e$$iciencies greater than one *hereas industrial !rocesses 'ainly use non1biological in!ut and !rocesses. =BThe Road to AltoM) by Robin 3en+ins) Pluto Press) 909>.

Cuban ?@a'!le
En Cuba) organic $ar'ing has been carried out on a large scale. The science o$ agro1 ecology has been highly develo!ed and 'any scientists in Cuba are turning to this $ield because this a!!ears to be very i'!ortant $or the $uture o$ our Planet. ,elo* is an e@a'!le o$ such a research *hich is relevant to this discussion.

=,"Z>
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ Integrated agro ecological s!ste"s as a #a! $or#ard $or Cuban agriculture A three1year e@!eri'ent *as carried out to study di$$erent agro1ecological livestoc+1 cro! syste's under di$$erent soils and cli'ates) *ithout irrigation and using on1$ar' resources $or ani'al and !lant nutrition. %ive $ar's) $our in the !rocess o$ conversion and the $i$th *ith t*elve years o$ establish'ent *ere studied. ?ight sustainability indicators =re$orestation) total s!ecies) $ood !roducts) labour intensity) !roduction o$ organic $ertilisers) yields) energy e$$iciency and 'il+ !roduction> *ere de$ined. These relate to the 'ain !roductive and environ'ental !roble's $aced by the livestoc+ sector due to the s!ecialised agricultural 'odel that has !revailed in Cuba over the last $e* years. These indicators *ere 'easured) re!resented on a radial gra!h and evaluated through an analytical descri!tion and 'ultivariate analysis. ,iodiversity increased a$ter the establish'ent o$ integrated syste's. /tarting $ro' s!ecialised 'il+ !roduction syste's) diversi$ication allo*ed $or bet*een 60 and ;0 'ore !roducts. %he integrated s!ste"s increased the energ! e$$icienc! $ro" & to '( )oules *roduced *er )oule o$ in*ut+ #abour intensity decreased yearly a$ter a greater initial labour de'and reHuired $or establishing the syste'. Production o$ high Huality organic $ertiliser =2 to ; tonnes9ha> *as a 'ajor resource to cover the cro! nutrient reHuire'ents. Productivit! increased b! u* to ,+- tonnes.ha including both ani"al and cro* *roduction+ There *as so'e $luctuation bet*een ani'al and cro! !roduction) but the $inal result *as higher syste' !roductivity. The results o$ the study sho* that integrated ecological livestoc+1cro! syste's can !rovide su$$icient ca!acity and !otential to sustain intensive !roduction based on available natural resource 'anage'ent alternatives. =%ro' /ernando1/unes 0on1ote and 0arta 0on1ote2 Pastures and Forage /esearch @nstitute 3@@PF5# P'Bo!;,+)# CP(,;,,# Ha"ana# Cuba% 0mail mgahonaBip%etecsa%cu5 [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

41

/ustainability
8uch o$ the discussion on sustainability is about !lanet earthAs ability to su!!ort li$e at the !resent rate o$ e@!loitation by 'an. The 'ain !roble' is the use o$ $ossil $uels as the 'ain source o$ energy. This BdeadA source o$ energy can only increase entro!y. &istorically civiliDations bro+e do*n *hen the bias to*ards negative entro!y *as re!laced by a bias to*ards !ositive entro!y. That is *hat is ha!!ening today. Ca!italis' has a tendency to increase Bconstant ca!italA that is 'achinery) and reduce Bvariable ca!italA that is labour. En our ter'inology the share o$ entro!y generating technology +ee!s on increasing at the cost o$ negative entro!y !rocesses. This a!!lies to sources o$ energy) such as $ossil $uel as against biological $uel such as *ood) charcoal) agro1*aste etc. as *ell as !roducts such as !lastic $urniture against *ood $urniture and so on. TodayAs 'ain crisis) na'ely cli'ate change and global *ar'ing is !ri'arily a result o$ these entro!y1generating !rocesses. E$ *e continue *ith this) not only the !resent civiliDation is doo'ed) !robably the very e@istence o$ the hu'an s!ecie is doo'ed. A'ong civilisations only China and Endia created sustainable agricultural sur!luses over centuries and survived continuously until recently. This they did by retaining the $ertility o$ the soil over centuries. This *as done by using a 'i@ o$ cro!s) cro! rotation and using co'!ost. The Endian artisan) *eaver) cobbler and !otter 'ainly used biological in!uts in ter's o$ ra* 'aterial and labour !rocesses. Today these civiliDations also are ta+ing the sa'e road o$ ca!italis' and are $acing si'ilar !ros!ects.

Technology Choice
/o $or sustainability) the technology choice should be such that *e 'a@i'iDe biological !rocesses in our technology. This i'!lies organic $ar'ing and a host o$ a!!ro!riate technologies that !eo!le have been tal+ing about. This does not 'ean *e are going bac+ or that *e are being !ri'itive and unscienti$ic. /cience does not 'ean using the la*s o$ science to BconHuerA nature or Ae@!loitA it. /uch a 'eaning acHuired i'!ortance 'ainly in the industrial era *here the logic o$ ca!italis' needed 'ore and 'ore !roduction. These together de$ine the Bdevelo!'entA 'odels and Bgro*thA 'odels that are res!onsible $or 'uch o$ resource de!letion and environ'ental degradation and global *ar'ing. These are essentially unsustainable 'odels. /cience) historically) 'eant understanding the la*s o$ nature and living in har'ony *ith it. Agriculture calendars *ere !re!ared on such +no*ledge and !eo!le organised their agricultural activities on the basis o$ these calendars. Peo!le learned to live *ith $loods and bene$ited $ro' the $resh soil that *as brought *ith it) instead o$ BcontrollingA $loods *ith building da's and e'ban+'ents. #i$e on earth has been sustained by harvesting the $usion reactor in the /un rather than building a $ission reactor on earth itsel$J ,iological sciences are 'ore co'!le@ than 'aterial sciences. 8a@i'ising biological !rocesses in our technology i'!lies 'ore and better science as *ell as using sensible achieve'ents o$

42

!revious generations. This also i'!lies sustainable 'odels o$ near Dero gro*th. There are other as!ects o$ using biological !rocesses that cannot be 'easured so easily. A tree gives $ruits) leaves) $uel) ti'ber) !rovides shade) shelter to birds and a host o$ insects. Et also absorbs carbon dio@ide and gives out o@ygen. Et lets the rain*ater reach the earth gently and slo*ly. :hen it dies all o$ it goes bac+ to nature through the activities o$ insects and $ungi and sa!ro!hytic $lora. There are aesthetic as!ects too. 8any o$ us ad'ire handicra$ts that are 'ade $ro' natural ra* 'aterials. En all our social and religious $unctions and 'arriages 'ost o$ us !re$er decorations and clothes 'ade $ro' natural 'aterial. En s!orts too *e can see this. ,i+e enthusiasts love the thrill o$ s!eed and traversing rough terrain. ,ut horse riding can also give si'ilar thrill and cover even rougher terrains. And the latter is 'ore sustainable.

En Conclusion
#i$e on earth *as sustainable be$ore the industrial revolution and de$orestation because the entro!y o$ the ,ios!here *as decreasing continuously. This *as so due to the $act that hu'an beings *ere still 'ainly de!endent on biological !rocesses $or their survival and gro*th. /table and sustainable civiliDation li+e the Chinese and the Endian) *ere built on such technologies. The !resent crisis o$ cli'ate change) *hich is leading to the e@tinction o$ li$e on earth) is due to the $act that in the last 200 years) non1biological) entro!y increasing technologies have beco'e do'inant. A!art $ro' technology there is 'uch else that is *rong *ith ca!italis'. Et is 'ainly irrational !roduction and consu'!tion. /o'e esti'ate it to be as 'uch as 90 L o$ all activities in ter's o$ 'oney. These include the 'ilitary industrial co'!le@ and 'edico industrial co'!le@) 'uch o$ the e@tractive industry) al'ost all o$ $ossil $uel industry) irrational use o$ agriculture to su!!ort tobacco) alcohol and narcotic industry and so on. There is a strong correlation bet*een ca!italist irrational !roduction and consu'!tion and entro!y generating technologies. "$ course sustainable technologies *ill have so'e non1living things such as 'etals in hand1tools and so'e ca!italist !roduction such as tobacco can be biological in origin. &ence the !ro'otion o$ technologies that have high content o$ negative entro!y9biological !rocesses and eli'ination o$ irrationalities o$ ca!italist !roduction and consu'!tion can ensure a sustainable $uture.

43

C5,A :ET&"5T E/8/ road to a fossil fuel free society

Cuba is *here OPea+ "ilP hit in 9.9 1 in an arti$icial 'anner 1 because in the *orld as a *hole) there *as no shortage o$ oil. "nly the /oviet syste' had begun to colla!se and Cuba sto!!ed receiving !etroleu' $ro' the /oviets. This *as its only source because o$ the 5/ e'bargo. Cuba *as !ut to its greatest test and it !assed *ith $lying coloursJ The year 9.9) ushered in the B/!ecial PeriodA in Cuba) a scenario that has hit the rest o$ the *orld no*. The *orld) ho*ever) is not as !re!ared to 'eet it as Cuba *as. En the case o$ Cuba *e can see the *hole e@!erience o$ Pea+ oil) econo'ic crisis and recovery. ?ven *ith regards to global *ar'ing) *hich has beco'e a 'ajor crisis no*) Cuba has achieved all the goals o$ reducing its carbon e'issions. Thus Cuba has lessons $or all on ho* to 'eet the !resent challenge. The *ord Bis'sA re!resents a grou! o$ *ords ending in Bis'A) li+e colonialis') neo colonialis') ca!italis') socialis') co''unis' and anarchis'. Although these *ords *ill be used in the te@t) the idea is that the e@isting 'eaning o$ these *ords should not bog do*n the reader. :hile the Cuban govern'ent calls itsel$ BA /ocialist /tateA) these *ords have di$$erent i'!lications in di$$erent historical conte@ts. The e@!erience o$ Cuba is too i'!ortant to ignore and one should be !re!ared to learn *ithout these !re1 conceived notions. The s!ecial !eriod in Cuba is li+e a real ti'e 'odelI large enough to !rove its viability. &o*ever it is never easy to re!eat *hat so'e one else has done. <orth 4orea too $aced the sa'e !roble' as Cuba did in 9.9 but did not ta+e the !ath o$ Cuba. Today Ni'bab*e is $acing the *orst econo'ic crisis and one cannot say ho* the country *ill deal *ith the set bac+s.

The story o$ Cuba

Cuba is an archi!elago) that is) it is a grou! o$ islands situated in the Caribbean /ea bet*een the t*o A'ericas. There are t*o 'ain islands1Esle o$ Cuba and the Esle o$ Youth and so'e 200 s'all islands) *ith a total area o$ about ) )000 sHuare +ilo'etres. Et has a !o!ulation o$ about . crore =200 > and a density o$ 00 !ersons !er sHuare +ilo'eter. Et is a tro!ical country li+e 4erala in /outhern Endia *ith a rain$all o$ 600 '' =-2 inches> !er year. The 'ain $ood cro!s are rice) corn) cassava) beans) !lantains and citrus $ruits.

Colonialis' in #atin A'erica and in Cuba

44

8odern colonialis' in #atin A'erica began *ith the voyages o$ Christo!her Colu'bus and Vasco (a 7a'a in the closing years o$ the -th century. Colu'bus *ho actually started $or Endia reached Cuba in ;92. :hile the A'ericas *ere ra!idly colonised in the 2th century *ith genocide and 'ass +illing o$ the bison !o!ulation) colonialis' did not succeed in Endia e@ce!t in 7oa. Et too+ another 2-0 years $or the ?ast Endia Co'!any to get the 2iwani =Rights to collect revenues and ta@es> o$ ,engal in 02-. Another !articularity is that local languages *ere al'ost co'!letely re!laced by /!anish. /!anish is the co''on language o$ #ain A'erica =e@ce!t in ,raDil) &aiti and :est Endies> and its literary tradition has !layed a uniting role in the region. The #atin A'erican intellectual there$ore o$ten reads the sa'e boo+s) and is in$luenced by the sa'e thin+ers and *riters. This di$$erence is crucial to understand *hy the #atin A'erican countries) and in !articular Cuba) in s!ite o$ the !aucity o$ resources) has 'ade such ra!id advances in social) !olitical) educational and !ro$essional s!heres. To 'ention in !assing) it also e@!lains !artially the di$$erence bet*een 7oa and rest o$ Endia. Prior to the arrival o$ the /!anish) the island *as inhabited by <ative A'erican !eo!les +no*n as the Ta\no and Ciboney. The Ta\no *ere $ar'ers and the Ciboney *ere hunters and gatherers. The /!anish colonialists 'ade Cuba the headHuarters o$ their e'!ire. They brought nearly $ive hundred thousand slaves $ro' A$rica as $ar' labourers) destroyed the traditional subsistence econo'y and created sugar !lantations *ith slave labour.

Ende!endence and <eo Colonialis'

,y the 9th century) the 5/A had gro*n in !o*er and *as contending to e@!and its in$luence in /outh A'erica. The 5/A $ought *ith /!ain and su!!orted inde!endence 'ove'ents. These Binde!endentA countries actually beca'e neo colonies o$ the 5/ *ith the 5/ ca!italis' ta+ing over 'ost o$ the business in these countries. 8ost o$ it *as 'ining and !lantation. Cuba too $aced this and there *ere atte'!ts to liberate itsel$ throughout the $irst hal$ o$ the 20th century. Et ulti'ately sa* success in 9-9 *ith the %idel Castro co'ing into !o*er.

Revolution and its achieve'ent

%idel Castro beca'e the !ri'e 'inister o$ Cuba in %ebruary 9-9. En its $irst year the ne* revolutionary govern'ent e@!ro!riated !rivate !ro!erty *ith little or no co'!ensationI nationalised !ublic utilitiesI tightened controls on the !rivate sector ; and closed do*n the 'a$ia1controlled ga'bling industry. /o'e o$ these 'easures *ere underta+en by %idel CastroMs govern'ent in the na'e o$ the !rogra''e outlined in the 8ani$esto o$ /ierra 8aestra. The govern'ent nationalised !rivate !ro!erty totalling about ]2- billion 5/ dollars) out o$ *hich A'erican !ro!erty 'ade u! only over 5/ ] .0 billion. Cuba $aced o!!osition $ro' the 5/A and a trade e'bargo. Cuba turned to the /oviet 5nion *hich hel!ed it to develo!. Et bought sugar $ro' Cuba at a high !rice and gave it oil) 'achinery and $ood at a chea! !rice. ?ven be$ore CastroAs co'ing to !o*er) Cuba already had a *ell develo!ed econo'y. :ith /oviet hel! and its o*n revolutionary !rogra''e it 'ade ra!id strides in education) health and invested in !rogra''es $or the 45

general *ell being o$ its !eo!le. Et also de$ended itsel$ against e$$orts by the 5/ to destabiliDe the govern'ent) assassinate its leaders and even invade territory.

?'!loy'ent and Trade 5nions

En Cuba) the <ational #abour Code legislation co'!rehensively guarantees *or+ersA rights. Et guarantees *or+ers the right to belong to a trade union and the state has the res!onsibility o$ $inding *or+ $or every one over the age o$ 0 including those *ith disabilities *ho are able and *illing to enter e'!loy'ent. Cuba has a *or+ $orce o$ ;0)00)000 o$ *ho' 9.L belong to a trade union. :o'en 'a+e u! ;6L o$ the trade union 'e'bershi! and account $or -..9L o$ o$$icials at the regional level. En addition) 2)-0)000 !ensioners are also trade union 'e'bers. En order to $or' a trade union) no !er'ission $ro' the govern'ent is reHuired. 8e'bershi! is not obligatory and 'e'bers !ay L o$ their earnings each 'onth. En each enter!rise there is only one union to re!resent the *or+$orce. (uring the s!ecial !eriod) the trade union 'ove'ent organised *or+ersA !arlia'ents in *or+ !laces around the country. They gave )20)000 suggestions on ho* to 'eet the crisis. A large nu'ber o$ these suggestions *ere incor!orated into the govern'entAs !lans.

?ducation
Cuba has a long history in education. The 5niversity o$ &avana *as $ounded in 02.. En 9-0 just be$ore the Castro regi'e ca'e into !o*er) CubaAs literacy level according to the 5nited <ations data *as $ourth in the region at al'ost .0L 1 higher than o$ /!ain. E''ediately a$ter the revolution) the govern'ent declared a ; 'onth closure o$ colleges. The Oti'e o$$P *as 'eant to be utiliDed $or conducting literacy classes $or adults. About )20)000 voluntary BteachersA *ent out into the hinterlands) and over 0)00)000 !eo!le learned to read and *rite. Thus in one year Cuba attained a very high rate o$ literacy. Today) school attendance is co'!ulsory $ro' ages si@ to the end o$ basic secondary education =nor'ally at age -> and all students regardless o$ age or gender *ear s!eci$ied colour school uni$or's as !er grade levels. &igher education is !rovided by universities and higher !edagogical and !olytechnic institutes. The Cuban 8inistry o$ &igher ?ducation also o!erates a sche'e o$ distance educationI !roviding an o!!ortunity $or agricultural *or+ers in rural areas to attend regular a$ternoon and evening courses. ?ducation has a strong !olitical and ideological e'!hasis and students !rogressing to higher education are e@!ected to have a co''it'ent to the goals o$ the Cuban govern'ent. Cuba has also !rovided state subsidised education to a li'ited nu'ber o$ $oreign nationals at the #atin A'erican /chool o$ 8edicine.

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&ealth
&istorically Cuba has ran+ed high in the nu'ber o$ 'edical !ersonnelI 'a+ing signi$icant contributions to *orld health since the 9th century. Cubans bene$it $ro' $ree health care services. Pri'ary care is available throughout the island and in$ant and 'aternal 'ortality rates co'!are $avorably *ith those in develo!ed nations. Post revolution) in the 920s) Cuba initially e@!erienced an overall *orsening in health conditions 1 in ter's o$ disease and in$ant 'ortality rates 1 *hen hal$ its 2)000 doctors le$t the country. Recovery occurred by the 9.0s. The Co''unist govern'ent asserted that universal healthcare *as to be a !riority in state !lanning. Accordingly) a!!ro!riate 'easures *ere ta+en in rural areas. &o*ever) $ollo*ing the end o$ /oviet subsidies in 99 and tightening o$ the 5/ e'bargo in 992) 'edical care too su$$ered $ro' severe 'aterial shortages. Cuba has the highest doctor1to1!o!ulation ratio in the *orld and has sent thousands o$ doctors to 'ore than ;0 countries around the *orld. According to the 5<) the li$e e@!ectancy in Cuba is 0..6 years =02.2 $or 'ales and .0.; $or $e'ales>. This ran+s Cuba 60th in the *orld and 6rd in the A'ericas) behind only Canada and Chile) and just ahead o$ the 5nited /tates. En$ant 'ortality in Cuba declined $ro' 62 =in$ant deaths !er )000 live births> in 9-0) to 0 in 99019-. En$ant 'ortality in 20001200- *as 2. !er )000 live births =co'!ared to 2.. in the 5/A>.

Colla!se o$ the /oviet 5nion and the /!ecial Period

,e$ore 9.9) Cuba *as a 'odel 7reen Revolution $ar' econo'y based on huge !roduction units o$ state1o*ned $ar's and de!endent on vast Huantities o$ i'!orted oil) che'icals and 'achinery to !roduce e@!ort cro!s. 5nder agree'ents *ith the $or'er /oviet 5nion) Cuba had been an oil1driven country) and 9. !ercent o$ all its !etroleu' had co'e $ro' the /oviet bloc. At the end o$ 99 ) only 2 o$ the !ro'ised 6 ' tons *ere received) and the short $all in oil began to severely a$$ect the nationAs econo'y. :hile oil *as critical) other losses *ere also i'!ortant) as .- !ercent o$ all CubaAs trade *as *ith the /oviets. Cuba e@!orted 22 !ercent o$ all sugar and 9. !ercent o$ its citrus $ruit to the /oviet bloc) and i'!orted $ro' the' 22 !ercent o$ its $ood) .2 !ercent o$ all ra* 'aterials) and .0 !ercent o$ 'achinery and s!are !arts. ConseHuently) *hen su!!ort $ro' the /oviet bloc *as *ithdra*n) $actories closed) $ood scarcity beca'e *ides!read. The colla!se o$ the /oviet bloc and the tightened 5/ trade e'bargo e@!osed the vulnerability o$ CubaAs 7reen Revolution and e@!ort oriented econo'y 'odel. Cuba !lunged into the *orst $ood crisis in its history. En early 990) a survival econo'y *as !ut in !lace as )00)000 tons o$ *heat nor'ally obtained through barter arrange'ents $ailed to arrive and the govern'ent had to use scarce hard currency to i'!ort grain $ro' Canada. The !rice o$ $ood *ent u! and bread had to be rationed. ,et*een 9.9 and 992) overall $ood consu'!tion *as said to have 47

decreased by 20 !ercent in calories and 20 !ercent in !rotein. To 'a+e 'atters *orse) CubaAs e$$orts to reverse the trend o$ rural1urban 'igration over the !ast decades $ailed to curtail the increasing tide o$ rural 'igrants to the cities) es!ecially to &avana. /hortages o$ $ood and 'edicine and gasoline *ere driving !eo!le to the ca!ital. Cuba *as $aced *ith a dual challenge o$ doubling $ood !roduction *ith hal$ the !revious in!uts and *ith so'e 0; !ercent o$ its !o!ulation living in cities. Yet by 990) Cubans *ere eating al'ost as *ell as they did be$ore 9.9) *ith negligible $ood and agroche'ical i'!orts. Enstead) Cuba concentrated on creating a 'ore sel$1reliant agriculture. A co'bination o$ higher cro! !rices !aid to $ar'ers) agro ecological technology) s'aller !roduction units and 'ost i'!ortantly urban agriculture.

The Cuban res!onse

The *ay Cuba res!onded is an ins!iration to the rest o$ the *orld. Et began *ith a nation1 *ide call to increase $ood !roduction by restructuring agriculture. Et involved converting $ro' conventional large1scale) high in!ut 'onoculture syste's to s'aller scale) organic and se'i1organic $ar'ing syste's. The $ocus *as on using lo* cost and environ'entally sa$e in!uts and relocating !roduction closer to consu'!tion) in order to cut do*n on trans!ortation costs. 5rban agriculture !layed a signi$icant !art in this e$$ort. A s!ontaneous decentralised 'ove'ent had arisen in the cities. Peo!le res!onded enthusiastically to the govern'ent initiative. ,y 99;) 'ore than .)000 city $ar's *ere created in &avana alone. %ront la*ns o$ 'unici!al buildings *ere dug u! to gro* vegetables. "$$ices and schools cultivated their o*n $ood. 8any o$ the gardeners *ere retired 'en in their $i$ties and si@ties and urban *o'en !layed a 'uch larger role in agriculture than their rural counter!arts. ,y 99.) an esti'ated -); )000 tons o$ $ood *ere !roduced in &avana $or local consu'!tion. %ood Huality also i'!roved as !eo!le had access to a greater variety o$ $resh $ruits and vegetables. 5rban gardens continued to gro* and so'e neighbourhoods *ere !roducing as 'uch as 60 !ercent o$ their o*n $ood. The gro*th o$ urban agriculture *as largely due to the /tateAs co''it'ent to 'a+e unused urban and suburban land and resources available to as!iring urban $ar'ers. The issue o$ land grants in the city converted hundreds o$ vacant s!aces into $ood !roducing !lots and ne* !lanning la*s !laced the highest land use !riority on $ood !roduction. Another +ey to success *as o!ening $ar'ers 'ar+ets and legalising direct sales $ro' $ar'ers to consu'ers. (eregulation o$ !rices co'bined *ith high de'and $or $resh !roduce in the cities allo*ed urban $ar'ers to generate t*o to three ti'es as 'uch inco'e as the rural !ro$essionals. The govern'ent also encouraged gardeners through an e@tensive su!!ort syste' including e@tension service !ersonnel) and horticultural grou!s that o$$ered assistance and advice. /eed houses throughout the city sold seeds) gardening tools) co'!ost and distributed bio$ertilisers and other biological control agents at lo* costs. <e* biological soil in!uts and organic gardening techniHues *ere develo!ed and !er$ected by CubaAs agricultural research sector) *hich had already begun e@!loring organic alternatives to che'ical controls. This enabled CubaAs urban $ar's to beco'e co'!letely organic. En

48

$act) a ne* la* !rohibited the use o$ any !esticides $or agricultural !ur!oses any*here *ithin city li'its. The introduction o$ a diversi$ied 'ar+et1based syste' $or $ood distribution s!urred increased agricultural !roductivity. The 5nited <ations %ood and Agriculture "rganiDation esti'ated that bet*een 99; and 99.) Cuba tri!led the !roduction o$ tubers and !lantainsI doubled the !roduction o$ vegetables) *hich $urther doubled again in 999. Potatoes increased $ro' )..)000 tonnes in 99; to 6)60)000 tonnes in 99.I *hile beans increased by 20 !ercent and citrus by 0 !ercent $ro' 99; to 999. Anecdotal in$or'ation suggests that thousands o$ $a'ilies le$t cities and large to*ns to 'a+e their livelihood $ro' the land. "ther in$or'ation indicates that thousands o$ une'!loyed K including rural 'igrants K have $ound e'!loy'ent in urban agriculture.

Trans!ort
:hen oil su!!ly sto!!ed in 990) trans!ortation ground to a near halt. There *ere no cars runningI !ublic conveyance colla!sedI and the streets *ere e'!ty. Peo!le *al+ed. Around 996) Cuba i'!orted 2)00)000 Chinese bicycles. To begin *ith) truc+s *ere converted to buses by si'!ly *elding ste!s to the bac+. A s+eletal $ra'e o$ rods and a cano!y *ere added. The conce!t *as re$ined into the CubaAs 'ass transit bus the BCa'elloneA =The Ca'el>. ,uilt on a long chassis vehicle) it can acco''odate 2-0 !ersons. %or shorter distances there *ere cycle and auto ric+sha*s. En s'aller to*ns) horse dra*n or even 'ule dra*n BcabsA *ere to be s!otted. Car1!ooling and ride sharing is co''on in Cuba. There are designated govern'ent o$$icials in yello* uni$or's *ho have the right to !ull over even govern'ent vehicles and seat !eo!le in need o$ trans!ort.

Cuba as a $ossil $uel $ree society

Cuba) it *ould a!!ear) is *ell on its *ay to being a $ossil $uel $ree society. Ets agriculture is !ri'arily organicI it has rationalised its trans!ortI and it has achieved e'ission standards *ell belo* the !rescribed li'it. Cuba also sho*s that a $ossil $uel $ree society does not 'ean going !ri'itive. Cuba is a 'odern society *ith access to 'odern science) education) health care and culture. &o*ever) one should re'e'ber) it is still in transition. Cuba 'aintains the second largest ar'y in #atin A'erica. This) it has to) because o$ the !resence o$ the 5/A in its bac+yard. A genuine $ossil $ree society *ill be achieved only in a *orld *ithout *ars) *ithout ar'ies) *ithout nuclear *ea!ons) in short a *orld *ithout borders. %ro' all the indications available) it is unli+ely that the !o*er$ul nations *ill ta+e this !ath *ithout going through another *ar. All the invest'ents in the ca!italist *orld are $lo*ing to ar'a'ent industry instead o$ going into alternative sources o$ energy or organic $ar'ingJ En such a scenario) Cuba still has to be on its toes to survive and is $ar $ro' reaching its $ull !otential.

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Reasons $or CubaAs success

En the 20th century $our great revolutions occurred: The Russian) the Chinese the Vietna'ese and the Cuban. ?ach one o$ the' ins!ired 'illions o$ !eo!le all over the *orld in their struggle against i'!erialis') against injustice and against ineHuality. ?ven today) the revolutionary 'ove'ent continues to learn i'!ortant lessons $ro' these revolutions. &o*ever *hile the Russian) the Chinese and the Vietna'ese revolution 'oved signi$icantly a*ay $ro' their socialist agenda) Cuba a$ter -0 years still see's to continue to succeed and ins!ire not only the revolutionary and the socialist 'ove'ent) but also a *hole range o$ !eo!le *ho are involved in the environ'ental and green 'ove'ents and *ho are loo+ing to*ards a !ost $ossil $uel society. :hat could be the reasons $or thisF The main credit of course goes to the Cuban people, their organisations, their professionals and the leadership. They withstood almost half a century of hostility by the biggest imperial power next door. The hostility included not only trade embargo but also a series of attempts to assassinate their leaders, coups and even invasions. On hindsight, this hostility may appear to be a blessing in disguise. It kept the country on its toes and never allowed it to get rich and corrupt. Cuba also had a policy of allowing all those who wanted to emigrate to the US to go. This may have also helped.

There are other reasons too that explain the uniqueness of Cuba and acknowledging these can help us understand the lessons one can learn from Cuba. These are historical; political; economic; and the high level of achievements in education and health sectors.

Latin America and Cuba experienced colonialism way back in the 16th century. Thus they were exposed to scientific and technological advances in Europe that much earlier. They got their freedom in 1898, unlike Asia and Africa where it came after the Second World War. They had free elections in 1940.

Cuba had Latin America's highest per capita consumption/use rates for meat, vegetables, cereals, automobiles, telephones and radios. Gross domestic product per capita had been approximately equal to Italy and significantly higher than that of Japan. Cuban workers enjoyed some of the highest wages in the world. Cuba attracted more immigrants primarily from Europe as a percentage of population than the US. The United Nations acknowledged Cuba for its large middle class. And finally, Cuba already had a good base in education and healthcare.

50

#essons $ro' Cuba

Cuba can !rovide us *ith a real ti'e 'odel $or the $uture not*ithstanding the $act that no 'odel is ever $ully or e@actly re!licable. There *ere s!ecial and uniHue historical and !olitical reasons that hel!ed Cuba to $ace the crisis and co'e out o$ it *ith $lying colours. /ince 'any countries in #atin A'erica share the colonial and !ost colonial history *ith Cuba) there is a greater a!!reciation $or Cuba there. And learning lessons $or' it *ill be relatively that 'uch easier. %or rest o$ the *orldI *herever regions share or identi$y *ith so'e o$ CubaAs $eatures there is a greater chance o$ i'!le'enting these lessons. The 'ost signi$icant being) social a*areness o$ e@!loitation and o!!ressionI struggle $or eHuityI tradition o$ de'ocracy in society and in !olitical !artiesI high level o$ literacy and educationI a*areness o$ environ'ent degradationI global *ar'ing) !ea+ oil and its conseHuencesI understanding the current global econo'ic crisis and initiatives e@!loring alternatives to it. En Endia) the :est coast) !articularly 4erala) coastal 4arnata+a and 7oa have so'e o$ $eatures si'ilar to Cuba and 'ay be they *ill be able to $ace the current crisis better. :est ,engal) in s!ite o$ CPE =8>As !resent un$ortunate !olicies) 'ay eventually e'erge to !lay a signi$icant role. ,ut no one can !redict the $uture *ith a decent degree o$ accuracy 1 it al*ays has a store o$ sur!rises.

51

:&AT T&?< /&"5#( :? ("F

/o $ar the issues discussed have been global in nature. :hile the crisis is truly global) the solutions *ill di$$er $ro' country to countryI $ro' region to region. The B'odelsA !resented in the !revious section can not be re!licated just li+e that. En $act in history there are no 'odels. There are theories and there are e@!eriences. They can ins!ire and guide but cannot be blue!rints $or action. %or instance) the Russian revolution 'ay have ins!ired the Chinese revolution but the latter is not a co!y o$ the $or'er. /i'ilarly today) Cuba 'ay a!!ear to be a transition 'odel $or a $ossil $uel $ree societyI but it can only ins!ire. ?ven *ithin #atin A'erica) each country is $ollo*ing a di$$erent !ath. Endia too is a sub continent. (i$$erent regions *ithin Endia have had and *ill have di$$erent !aths o$ change. Through out the boo+) the e'!hasis has been on reiterating that change can be brought about 'ainly through the organised struggles o$ sta+eholders. Rebuilding o$ the co''unity *ill e'erge out o$ co''on needs and visions o$ the co''unity. En this instance) co''unity identity is considered on the basis o$ biogeogra!hy and natural languages.

52

T&? %?(?RA# R?P5,#EC "% E<(EA region# biogeography and language

A $ossil $uel $ree society i'!lies s'aller siDe o$ regions and co''unities $ederated *ith each other. :hat $ollo*s is a discussion on the !ossible basis o$ *hich these areas could be de$ined or de'arcated as societies $unctioning inde!endent o$ $ossil $uels.

%ederalis'
En the history o$ BeHuality a'ongst !eo!leA as a conce!t) the !olitical organisation has o$ten been visualiDed as $ederal. %ederalis' 'eans that the constituent units co'e together to $or' an organisation based on eHuality. ?ach unit itsel$ can be a $ederation o$ s'aller units such as a village co''unity or an urban locality. 5sually the resources o$ a $ederal structure are raised through contributions $ro' constituent units. The !olity *ithin the unit 'ay be re!resentative or a direct de'ocracy. The issues o$ $ederal concern are generally those that reHuire the collective coo!eration o$ its constituent units) and centraliDed i'!le'entation. /o'e o$ these are co''unication) con$lict resolution) trade regulation) vigilance on trade routes $or s'ooth $unctioning etc. There are tried) tested and very e$$ective 'echanis's already in !lace. The !ressing issues o$ !resent ti'es are disar'a'ent and deco''issioning o$ nuclear *ea!onsI nuclear energy !lantsI nuclear *asteI environ'ental challengesI disasters due to natural !heno'enonI s!oradic outbursts o$ highly co''unicable diseasesI $ood securityI disintegration o$ the social $abric in society etc. &istorically there are several e@a'!les o$ $ederal e$$orts. The $ederation o$ A'erican Endian tribes has) it is clai'ed) ins!ired the 5/ %ederation. Again) the 92; constitution o$ 5//R =the later version strengthened the centre under /talinAs leadershi!> has been considered as a 'odel $ederal docu'ent. "n the eve o$ the inde!endence o$ Endia a $ederal constitution *as !ro!osed *ith li'ited !o*ers to the centreI but it *as not acce!table to the Endian bourgeoisie. They !re$erred a strong unitary $or' and o!ted $or the !artition o$ Endia. Presently there are 'any O$ederalistsP across the globe es!ousing a school o$ thought in the nature o$ a $e* thousand s'all inde!endent states on the !lanet. <ot very long ago 1 in the !re1colonial and !re industrial era K there e@isted $unctioning tribal or ethnic societies *ith clear cut traditions o$ governance. Although these have co'e under so'e $or' o$ a larger entity1 the stateI $or the !ur!ose o$ resolving 'any internal con$licts) they seldo' ta+e recourse to la*s laid do*n by the constitution. All over the *orld) de'and $or s'aller states or secessionist de'ands are based on Bidentity !oliticsA. #anguage o$ten re$erred to as BdialectA and geogra!hic or ecological criteria $or' the basis $or such de'ands. #anguage is not si'!ly a tool $or co''unication but is a central and de$ining $eature o$ identity as all hu'an thoughts are

53

conce!tualised through language and all hu'an values are !ronounced and !erceived through it. Very o$ten the e'!hasis on ecological or bio1geogra!hical regions is re$lected in the daily !ractices o$ the !eo!le and their language. En the *orld today) out o$ 29 2 living languages about 2-00 are endangered to varied degrees and 200 have already beco'e e@tinct. En Endia) o$ the ; - living languages) 92 are endangered and 9 have beco'e e@tinct. 8any o$ these endangered languages belong to the north1east) the tribal belts o$ :est ,engal and "rissa and to &i'achal Pradesh) 3a''u and 4ash'ir and 5ttara+hand.

A %ossil %uel %ree Endia

A $ossil $uel $ree Endia *ould consist o$ about a hundred or so $ederated units) so delineated) on the basis o$ language and biogeogra!hy. To !ro!ose such an ideaI it is reHuired *e evaluate the short co'ings in the e@isting situation. (uring colonial rule) the !olitical regions e'erged as ,ritish !o*er e@!anded. These regions e'erged around ,o'bay) 8adras) Calcutta and *ere +no*n as !residencies. They covered 'ultilingual regions. Thus) the ,o'bay !residency had 7ujarati) 8arathi and 4annada s!ea+ing regions and the 8adras !residency had Ta'il) Telugu and 4annada s!ea+ing regions. A$ter inde!endence) the de'and $or coherent linguistic regions gained strength) so'e contradictory) and at ti'es) co'!letely tangential !ro!ositions. "n one hand the de'and $or large Telugu) 4annada and 8arathi linguistic states beca'e !o*er$ul *hile so'e s'aller regions sho*ed a !re$erence $or s'aller states. The <agas on the e@tre'e <orth ?astern border *anted to be inde!endent o$ the Endian state. ?ven a$ter the $or'ation o$ states on linguistic basis) !eo!lesA de'and $or $urther delineation based $or regional criteria continuedI ulti'ately resulting in the $or'ation o$ 3har+hand) 5ttara+hand and Chhatisgarh. These have $urther $uelled de'ands $or ,odoland) 7or+haland) Vidarbh) Telengana etc.) *hich continue to this day. There is no doubt that these 'ove'ents *ill gro*. Et is entirely !ossible that 'ore states *ill be created. &o*ever) i$ these s'all states are created today) they *ill go the sa'e *ay as 3har+hand and Chattisgarh have gone. The 'ineral rich states o$ 3har+hand and Chattisgarh are attracting ra!acious ca!italist shar+s. The ruling !oliticians in these states are not eHui!!ed to deal *ith the' and are OsellingP the stateAs resources chea!. This has led to enor'ous e@!loitation o$ natural and hu'an resources. The environ'ent and the ordinary citiDens are bearing the brunt and stri$e is a'!ly evident. The sa'e *ill 'ost li+ely ha!!en i$ de'ands $or s'aller states are given into through creation o$ 'ore states *ithout due !erce!tive $orethought. "ne o$ the reasons $or the !resent situation in the ne*ly created states is the basis on *hich such de'ands *ere 'ade. The rationale being) larger states li+e ,ihar or 8adhya Pradesh *ere bene$iting $ro' the resources o$ these 'ineral rich areasI that there *as uneven develo!'entI and these regions *ere treated as internal colonies. ?ssentially it 'eant the local ruling grou!s *anted 'ono!oly control over this *ealth. Very o$ten the local big business house aided the'. %or e@a'!le) the Tatas su!!orted the 3har+hand 'ove'ent. &o*ever) Essues such as language) culture) e@!loitation o$ local !eo!le and

54

natural resources) receded into the bac+ground once the ne* states *ere $or'ed. Et 'ay be !rudent to note that the basis o$ these de'ands ought to be in the interest o$ !eo!le and ecology. The de'ands $or inde!endent ad'inistrative identities1 such as statehood 1 are use$ul only i$ they are achieved along *ith socialist or libertarian de'ands o$ $reedo' $ro' e@!loitation) eHuality and rational use o$ resources. /!eci$ically) the de'arcation o$ the boundaries o$ ne* regions *ould be 'ost ideal i$ based on biogeogra!hy and language.

,iogeogra!hy
,iogeogra!hy deals *ith the geogra!hical distribution o$ !lants and ani'als. Endia has 0 clearly distinguished biogeogra!hical areas. They are: . Trans &i'alayan Regions 2. &i'alayan Region 6. (esert ;. /e'iarid Region -. :estern 7hats 2. (eccan Plateau. 0. 7angetic Plain .. <orth ?ast Endia 9. /ea Coasts 0. Eslands. There 'ay be $urther subdivisions *ithin these areas on the basis o$ a s'aller ecosyste'. Thus) :estern 7hats has the 4on+an stri! o$ 8aharashtra) 7oa: 4aravali in 4arnata+aI and the <ilgiri ,ios!here at the tri1junction o$ 4erala) 4arnata+a and Ta'ilnadu. Again) (eccan !lateau *hich is a huge land 'ass has been divided into several s'aller sub divisions. A biogeogra!hic region de$ines its $lora) $auna and hu'an society. Thus it also de$ines a !eo!le) a s!eech co''unity or i$ you li+e a co''on identity. They are uniHue in the $ood they gro* and consu'eI houses and architectureI habitsI cultural and religious !racticesI clothingI language.

#anguage) /tandard #anguage and ,iogeogra!hy

En the !o!ular ter'inology) standard language is just called language and other languages are called dialects. #inguists today do not use the ter' dialect as it connotes hierarchy. %or the' all MdialectsM are languages. <atural languages have a shar!ly de$ined geogra!hic boundary and these also tend to coincide *ith ecological or biogeogra!hical regions. "n the other hand) standard language is a !olitical entity and has an elastic boundary. The e@a'!le o$ &indi can be used to illustrate this. &indi re!resents a set o$ about 60 languages. These 60 languages are not dialects o$ &indi. /tandard &indi is a recent !heno'enon dating bac+ to late 9th century only. :hereas) 'any o$ the other languages enjoy a 'uch older literary history. Acharya 4ishori (as ,aj!ai re$erred to &indi as a ter' that denotes a co''on*ealth o$ languages united by geogra!hic continuity) a co''on scri!t that is BnagariA and the use o$ CkaD pratyay 3uska# uske liye5% /o'e o$ these languages are: 8aithili) 8agahi) ,hoj!uri) A*adhi) ,raj) 4hari ,oli) 4u'aoni) 7arh*ali) (ogri) 8e*ati) 8e*ari) 8ar*adi) ,undel+handi) ,aghel+handi) 8al*i) <i'ari) Chhatisgarhi and so on. These languages have a shar!ly de$ined boundary and 55

indeed there are regions *hich are identi$ied by these na'es: 8ithila) 8agadh) ,hoj!ur) A*adh) ,rajbhu'i) 4u'aoun) 7arh*al) 8e*at) 8e*ar) 8ar*ar) ,undle+hand) ,aghel+ahand) 8al*a) <i'ar and Chhatisgarh. ?@a'!les $ro' other regions *ould be /anthali) 7ondi) and Tulu etc. As 'entioned above) these are also biogeogra!hic 9ecologically ho'ogeneous regions.

/tandard #anguage
/tandard language on the other hand is a historical and !olitical !o*er entity. That is *hyI it is so'eti'es called the language *ith a gun. Et can stretch or be i'!osed on *idely di$$erent regions. /uch is the case o$ /tandard &indi and ?nglish. Children in 'any M&indiM regions $ail in their &indi e@a'ination because they 'a+e B'ista+esA in the use o$ standard &indi as used in school. Peo!le $ro' 'any regions are loo+ed do*n because they cannot s!ea+ B!ro!erA &indi. /o'eti'es !eo!le $ro' these regions the'selves say that they do not s!ea+ !ro!er &indi. /tandard &indi has 'ade !eo!le second1class citiDens in their o*n land. The irony is that standard &indi itsel$ ca'e into being as recently as the 'id 9th century in :estern 5ttar PradeshJ :hereas ,raj *as a lin+ language $or religious grou!s throughout the 'ediaeval !eriod in <orth EndiaJ "ther standard Endian languages are Assa'ese) "riya) ,engali) Ta'il) Telugu) 4annada) 8alayala') 8arathi) 7ujarati) and Punjabi. A $e* other languages li+e 8aithili) Chhatisgarhi) 4on+ani and so'e languages in the <orth ?ast can also clai' this +ind o$ status.

#in+ #anguage
#in+ language is a language) *hich s!reads over a *ell de$ined large biogeogra!hic region due to trade) travel) religious and cultural co''unication. As o!!osed to the standard language it s!reads on its o*n de'ocratically and is not i'!osed $ro' above. (a+hni can be ta+en as an e@a'!le. (a+hni is the lingua $ranca o$ the (eccan. The (eccan is roughly the area bet*een the <ar'ada and Tungabhadra or 4rishna. "n the east it is bound by the 8ahanadi and on the *est by the :estern 7hats. Et is the great /outhern Endian !lateau. Politically it co'!rises o$ Vidarbha) 8arath*ada and 4handesh regions o$ 8aharashtra) Telangana and Rayalsee'a regions o$ Andhra Pradesh) and the &yderabad 4arnata+a and <orthern ,ayalusee'e regions o$ 4arnata+a. The (eccan Plateau as a biogeogra!hic region) as such) is a bigger entity. En the !resent conte@t it is li'ited by the s!read o$ (a+hni language. (a+hni is the co''on lingua $ranca o$ all 8usli's in the (eccan region) and is the lin+ language o$ the region and is understood by al'ost all !eo!le and s!o+en as a bilingual language by 'ost urban d*ellers. (a+hni has borro*ed vocabulary $ro' 8arathi) 4annada and Telugu in varying Huantities in the di$$erent sub regions. These languages in turn have borro*ed !hrases and *ords $ro' (a+hni in the (eccan region. Another e@a'!le o$ a lin+ language is <ag!uria or /adan s!o+en in Chhota <ag!ur9 3har+hand region. Although linguistically it is Huite di$$erent $ro' any o$ the tribal

56

languages s!o+en in the region it is understood by all. And li+e (a+hni there is a 'utual e@change o$ vocabulary in di$$erent sub regions o$ the area. The actual 3har+hand region is 'uch bigger than the !resent 3har+hand state. En $act the boundary o$ 3har+hand region can be de$ined by the e@tent o$ the s!read o$ <ag!uria language.

The %ederal /tates

The basis $or the $ederal states *ill be linguistic and biogeogra!hic. That is) regions li+e 8ithila) 8al*a etc. 'entioned above. En the $i$ties) *hen the idea o$ linguistic states *as being discussed) Rahul /ans+rityayan had suggested 60 states in the &indi region on the basis o$ these 60 languages. &e called the' 3ana!ad. &ere the biogeogra!hic angle is being added to it. Et is esti'ated that there are about 00 such regions in Endia. The logic $or this nu'ber is that there are about 200 districts in Endia. <o* a $e* o$ these districts =ty!ically ;12> $or' a larger region called a co''issionary in the Endian ad'inistration. Very o$ten the boundaries o$ these co''issionaries coincide *ith biogeogra!hic9linguistic regions that are being re$erred here. 8any de'ands $or s'all states even today have regions as de$ined above. "$$icially there is already a de'and $or 0 such states !ending *ith the central govern'ent. They are Telengana) Vidarbh) 7or+haland) 8ithilanchal) /aurashtra) Coorg) ,undel+hand) ,hoj!ur) &arit Pradesh or 4isan Pradesh =:estern 5. P.> and 7reater Cooch ,ehar =:. ,engal and Assa'>. Et is not di$$icult to identi$y these 00 odd biogeogra!hic1linguistic regions. 3ust a *hile ago) 'ore than 20 o$ these have been na'ed. 8ost s!ea+ers o$ these languages +no* the boundaries o$ their language) *hich have e@isted) 'ore or less unchanged) $or a $airly long ti'e. En 'any cases there is a de'and $or a se!arate state justi$ying this logic. Et is o$course u! to the !eo!le to *ant to have a se!arate state or be assi'ilated *ith neighbouring regions. #arger regions can be regional $ederal entities li+e The (eccan and The 4on+an. These *ould be large biogeogra!hic regions lin+ed by a lin+ language li+e the (a+hni) 4on+ani res!ectively. /o) *hile there can be states li+e 7oa) all the 4on+ani !eo!le) s!read over 8aharashtra) 7oa) 4arnata+a and 4asargod in 4erala in the :estern 7hats can also be united under the %ederal Re!ublic o$ 4on+anJ /i'ilarly s!eci$ic regions in 8aharashtra) 4arnata+a and Andhra Pradesh can be united under The %ederal Re!ublic o$ (eccan. &o*ever) as has been said above) the logic o$ a larger local region based on a lin+ language 'ay not hold true $or the *hole country. <or *ill there necessarily be a de'and $or the'. As o$ no*) only 3har+hand and Chhatisgarh are united by a lin+ language) *here di$$erent regions o$ these states have di$$erent languages. &o*ever only in Chhatisgarh the language Chhatisgarhi has beco'e the o$$icial language o$ the state. En 3har+hand &indi is still the o$$icial language o$ the state. Eronically a very s'all !art o$ the urban !o!ulation can s!ea+ this language. Et is

57

a+in to Pa+istan) *here !ractically no one s!ea+s 5rdu and yet 5rdu is the national language.

The de'ands $or these identities can give good results only i$ they are achieved along *ith socialist or libertarian de'ands o$ $reedo' $ro' e@!loitation) eHuality and rational use o$ resources. Thus it is an issue $or the $uture !olity o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society. The $uture state *ill certainly be s'allI *ith li'ited !o*erI and $ederated *ith other states. ?ven this 'ay be a transitory !heno'enon. En the $inal analysis) *ho needs a state to rule over usF As 8ar@ said) B8an+ind is 'oving $ro' a real' o$ necessity to a real' o$ $reedo'.A &ence) the real long ter' $uture is in sel$ 'anaged co''unities organiDed on the basis o$) *hat the anarchists call) Ma $ree association o$ $ree !eo!leAJ

58

Regional Enitiatives
towards a fossil fuel free society

The Endian scene

&aving !ro!osed a $ossil $uel $ree society) ho* does one go about achieving itF Et *ill certainly not be a de'and $or statehood under the !resent constitution $ollo*ing all the !olitical B*heeling1dealingA that goes on in !resent day Endian !olitics. En $act) it 'ay be best to avoid all !resent day !arlia'entary !olitical !arties. /ince 9.;) all the !arlia'entary !arties have abandoned the !oor. En 9.;) in ,ho!al) during the biggest industrial accident in the *orld) e@ce!t $or /5CE =/ocialist 5nity Centre o$ Endia>) none o$ the !arties *ere on the side o$ the !eo!le. %ro' the 90s) *ith the advent o$ liberalisation) !rivatisation and globalisation) the !arlia'entary !olitical !arties have been braDenly o!!osed to the !oor) dis!lacing the' in 'illions $ro' their ho'es and resources in the na'e o$ develo!'ent. "n the side o$ the !oor) there are three 'ajor $orces and a host o$ s'all ones. They are the <a@alites) <AP8 and the (alit 'ove'ent. A'ong the s'aller ones) but nevertheless very i'!ortant) are the *o'enAs 'ove'ents) anti1co''unal grou!s) Christian and Esla'ic dalits) atheists) rationalists and !eo!lesA science activists. 8any individuals) !ro$essionals li+e social scientists) engineers) architects) urban !lanners are also on the side o$ the !oor. En the struggle $or the !oor) there are three as!ects: assurance) relie$ and solution. All these grou!s are a source o$ assurance to the !oor) because they have stood by the' under very di$$icult situations o$ e@!loitation and o!!ression. En giving relie$) the <a@alites have been 'ore success$ul than others. <a@alites have hel!ed to raise *ages o$ the !oorest !eo!le e.g. tendu leaves collection) beedi 'a+ers) 'iners etc. They also !rotected the !oor $ro' o!!ression) ra!e) hu'iliation) bonded labour etc. As to the solution) none have a credible and realisable vision. The <a@alites o$$er only a theoretical solution. Et $ails to address adeHuately i'!ortant conte'!orary issues li+e gender and caste discri'ination) co''unalis') ecology) cli'ate change and energy.

The 5nited %ront o$ the /ta+eholders

7iven this situation) ho* does one beginF "ne *ay is to begin at the local level. #ocal can be as s'all as the village or a locality in a to*n and as big as an ecoDone or state 1 as de$ined above. The ne@t ste! *ould be to identi$y and engage in a dialogue *ith all the sta+eholders. :ho are the sta+eholdersF They can be individuals) classes or social grou!s and !olitical !arties. A'ong individuals) there is a large variety. The only criteria $or the' being: either their !revious engage'ent or their !resent *illingness to engage *ith the !oor in

59

their struggle. These !eo!le 'ay be ordinary !eo!le such as school teachers) ban+ e'!loyees) or !ro$essionals such as social scientists) scientists) architects) engineers) journalists and authors or any one else. A'ong classes and social grou!s there are trade unions and organisations o$ dalits) *o'en) tribals) victi's o$ develo!'ent and so on. Although it has been said above that the !arlia'entary !arties have beco'e anti !eo!leI recently) due to rise o$ !eo!leAs 'ove'ents) so'e !arties outside the govern'ent have sho*n a slight interest. &o*ever) they are li+ely to s*itch over the 'o'ent they beco'e !art o$ the govern'ent. There are several $or'ations li+e <AP8) *hich are !olitical and they have been on the side o$ the !eo!le. <a@alites are unli+ely to join o!enly because o$ their involve'ent in illegal ar'ed struggles. :hat *ill be the agendaF The 'ain agenda $or hu'anity $or the ne@t thirty years or so is to heal the earth o$ the degradation caused by ca!italis'. To do this) !eo!lesA struggles against these $orces o$ ca!italis' *ill have to continue. Al'ost every*here it *ill also be a struggle against e@!loitation and o!!ressionI and a struggle $or justice and eHuality. Parallel to this) there *ould have to be initiatives o$ designing and e@ecution o$ regional !lans $or a $ossil $uel $ree $uture. :hat is !ro!osed here is to ta+e the idea $or*ard through an organisation o$ the 5nited %ront o$ all the sta+eholders. Et is not enough just to have an e1grou! 1as is the !resent trend a'ongst civil society grou!s. En ter's o$ e$$ectiveness) its li'itations are 'any. A genuine engage'ent and ground level action is *hat is reHuired. /ingur and <andigra' in :est ,engal have sho*n the !o*er o$ this +ind o$ action. ?ven there) it lac+s a concrete alternative !lan. A victory li+e /ingur or <andigra' is a !o*er$ul booster o$ energy $or !eo!le. Though) there is al*ays the threat that e@isting !olitical interests *ill *ant to gain 'ileage out o$ such OvictoriesP. Enstead o$ allo*ing this to ha!!en) there should be a genuine !eo!lesA !lan $or a $ossil $uel $ree alternative. This !lan should be so designed such that it is !ossible to i'!le'ent it incre'entally *ith i''ediate relie$ and bene$it to the sta+eholdersI !articularly those *ho are adversely a$$ected by the sto!!ing o$ such anti !eo!le develo!'ent !rojects. /ections o$ such !eo!le $or e@a'!le are: construction *or+ers) individuals *ho have lost their lands and livelihoods or so called develo!'ent re$ugees. The !lans should o$$er i''ediate relie$ and e'!loy'ent so as to avoid trau'a and the !ossibility o$ ri$ts a'ongst the sta+eholders. /o *hat should one do in the here and no* to 'ove to*ards such a $utureF The case o$ one such region) the 4aravalis) is ta+en as an illustrative 'odel. Et is undoubtedly a s+etchy and tentative !ro!osal. %or) a genuine *or+able !ro!osal can only be !re!ared by a $oru' o$ local s+ate holders and their $acilitators) *ho have been !art o$ e@isting struggles.

60

The 4aravalis
The 4aravalis include the three districts o$ the coastal !lains o$ 4arnata+a. ?cologically and historically the 4asargod district o$ 4erala has al*ays been !art o$ the 4aravalis. The $our districts are s!read across an area o$ 2002 sH.+'s. *ith a !o!ulation o$ -.-2 'illion and a !o!ulation density o$ 620. 4annada is the o$$icial language. 8ost !eo!le can s!ea+ 4annada and the local languages. The language o$ 5ttara 4annada is 4annada and 4on+ani. 4on+ani is also s!o+en by the Catholics and 7oud /aras*at ,rah'ins =7/,s> all over the region. Tulu is s!o+en in (a+shina 4annada and 5du!i. 8alayala' and Tulu are s!o+en in 4asargod.

(istrict

&eadHuarters Po!ulation =200 >

Area

(ensity =9+'>

(a+shin 4annada

8angalore

).92);06

;--9

; 2

5du!i 5ttar 4annada

5du!i 4ar*ar

) 09);9; )6-6)299

6.09 0)29

2.2 62

4asargod 4asargod T"TA#

)206)6;2 -)-22)-6.

992 2002

20; 6-9.-

61

The <atural ?cono'y o$ the 4aravalis

The *ord Bnatural econo'yA here does not 'ean !ri'itive or !re ca!italist econo'y. Et is used to distinguish $ro' the econo'ic activity that serves distant interests) li+e re$ineries) !o*er !lants) naval bases etc. The basis o$ the econo'y is $ishing and agriculture. Agriculture cro!s here are 'ainly rice) coconut) areca and cashe*. &ence) there are rice 'ills) oil 'ills and cashe* !rocessing $actories as 'ajor allied industries. A!art $ro' *or+ing in these industries) the $a'ilies o$ the !oor landless su!!le'ent their inco'e by rolling beedis. There are big beedi 'anu$acturers 1 li+e the $a'ous 7anesh ,eedies 1 *hose 'ain *or+ is labeling) !ac+ing and 'ar+eting. The industry itsel$ *or+s on a B!utting outA syste'. Another source o$ subsistence is the $orest. Et !rovides $uel and a host o$ 'inor $orest !roduce that su!!le'ent the econo'y o$ the !oor. The natural econo'y has been under stress due to the !ressure o$ neo liberal !olicies. Cash cro!s are re!lacing $ood cro!s. This is also becauseI the younger generations *ithin $ar'ing $a'ilies !re$er a lucrative job in the service industry) over the $a'ilyAs traditional occu!ation o$ $ar'ing. 8any rice $ields have $allen $allo*I *hereas) the !roduction o$ areca) to !rovide $or the gro*ing gut+a 'ar+et) is increasing. ,ecause o$ anti s'o+ing la*s and the ca'!aigns to raise a*areness regarding the haDards o$ s'o+ing) che*ing o$ gut+a is slo*ly re!lacing beedis. En s!ite o$ heavy rains) one can see s!rin+ler irrigation in areca !lantations. Che'ical in!uts to agriculture are also increasing. (e$orestation has ta+en !lace e@tensively. 8onocro!s have been introduced and biodiversity has been reduced.

The ?@tended ?cono'y

The econo'y *hile it *as sel$1su$$icient did not generate enough 'oney. /o education and out 'igration have been i'!ortant $actors. The region has a $airly old history o$ Christianity and hence an old history o$ !rinting) boo+s and education. The region has a high literacy rate) has !roduced i'!ortant literati) and ban+ers. The region is ho'e to $our national ban+sJ 5du!i hotels are the other side o$ the e@tended econo'y. :hen the econo'y o$ the Arabian 7ul$ nations boo'ed a$ter 90 ) there *as signi$icant out 'igration) !articularly $ro' areas) *ith high 8usli' !o!ulations) li+e ,hat+al. Et is i'!ortant to re'e'ber that conversion to Esla' occurred 'ainly a'ong artisan castes. &ence) there already e@isted a high !ro!ortion o$ s+illed *or+ers a'ong the'. &o*ever) i$ ta+en as a *hole) out 'igration occurred $ro' across the region and $ro' all sections o$ the !o!ulation.

The 5ndesirable (evelo!'ent

The sea !ort at 8angalore and the naval base at 4ar*ar have been around $or so'e ti'e. En $act the !ort even has an un1o!erational barge1'ounted !o*er !lant. :hat is *orrying to 'ost environ'entalists and to the local !eo!le is the glut o$ !o*er !lants being !lanned and to so'e e@tent e@ecuted. 62

The close !ro@i'ity to the sea *or+s in $avour o$ such decisions $or the $ollo*ing reasons: . E'!ort o$ coal $ro' Australia. 2. :ater is available in !lenty. 6. The sea can be used to du'! *aste. The o!!osition to these !lants is 'ainly based on the $ollo*ing argu'ents: . 7ood agricultural land is being ta+en a*ay 2. Et *ill cause irre!arable environ'ental da'age to one o$ the 'ost environ'entally sensitive regions 1 :estern 7hats. The i'!ortance o$ the :estern 7hats as an ecological hots!ot cannot be overstated. A!art $ro' its uniHue $lora and $auna) it is the source o$ all the 'ajor rivers $lo*ing east*ard) thus) !roviding *ater security to the *hole o$ /outhern Endia.

The &istory o$ the /truggle

The trade union 'ove'ent in the region is $airly strong. The $isher'enAs union) the ,eedi *or+ersA union are traditional unions. The 8angalore !ort *or+ers also have a union. ,an+ and insurance e'!loyeesA unions) although a !art o$ national unions) have a strong !resence here. ,y and large the unions have been loo+ing a$ter the interests o$ their constituency in ter's o$ *ages) !rovident $und) health care etc. The ,eedi *or+ers have *on i'!ressive gains in s!ite o$ being s!read so thinly across the region. &o*ever) on the *hole) there is little concern $or the region or the larger crisis o$ ca!italis' and $uture o$ the society. This is understandable) as it has not been on their agendaI the daily struggles $or survival ta+e u! all ti'e and energy. There have been big struggles against re$ineries) !o*er !lants and the 8angalore /!ecial ?cono'ic None !ro!osals. :hile the industries have created *ealth $or the national and local rich) it has co'e at an enor'ous e@!ense to the !eo!le and to the ecology o$ the region. Peo!le *ere dis!laced *hile building the !ortI so'e o$ the' *ere dis!laced again *hile building the re$inery and the 4on+an Rail*ay. A holistic a!!roach to the struggle *as ta+en by !re!aring a docu'ent called 4?/A14odachadri ?cologically /ensitive Area. Et *as a !roactive 'ove on the !art o$ local sta+eholders !ro!osing the area be declared as ecologically sensitive. Et *as 'eant to !revent the setting u! o$ ecologically unviable industries in the region under the e@isting Endian la*s. The !rocess o$ !re!aring this !ro!osal *as very !artici!atory and de'ocratic. All the sta+eholders in the struggle *ere consulted and *ere +e!t in the !icture through out. #ocal and national e@!erts !ooled their +no*ledge and !ut u! a very strong case. The docu'ent *as !resented to the 5nion and /tate 7ovt. Predictably it is hanging $ireI *hile the ecology o$ the region continues to !ay the !rice. :hile it *as an e@cellent e@ercise) it *as not thought out $ully. Et $ell short o$ $ollo* u! action at the co''unity level co'bined *ith a lac+ o$ !ersistent and consistent $ollo*1u! at o$$icial levels. "ne o$ the !roble's *as the !rotagonistsA 'ain ai'I *hich *as) to engage *ith the /tate 1 as+ing it to i'!le'ent its o*n la*s. There *as an i'!licit belie$ in the !ossibility and viability o$ the B:el$are /tateA. This also led the' to engage *ith local 8#As and religious !onti$$s. :hile this !rovided an o!!ortunity to *or+ and engage *ith 'any

63

!ro$essionals) it did not hel! in ta+ing the *or+ $or*ard. /o *here does one beginF

The 4aravali Regional Enitiative 7rou!

Peo!le can only start *ith *hat has already been achieved and go on to build on its strength. En the 4aravalis) there are already) several good !recedents. The organisation that has been success$ully *aging a struggle against the !o*er !lant at <andi+ur $or the last 20 yearsI the struggle against the re$inery; the struggle against the 8angalore /!ecial ?cono'ic NoneI the consortiu' o$ 4?/AI and a host o$ e@isting social and class organisations that have success$ully launched various struggles in the !ast. /o'e o$ these organisations and grou!s are: 1. ,eedi *or+ers association 2. Cashe* *or+ersA association 3. Tile *or+ersA association 4. The ta@i and ric+sha* driversA union 5. ,an+ and insurance e'!loyeesA unions 6. Port *or+ersA union 7. 8RP# *or+ersA union 8. (alit /angharsh /a'iti 9. 3a'at e Esla' e &ind 10. 4arnata+a %oru' $or (ignity 11. 3ana 3agruti /a'iti) <andi+ur ='ove'ent against the ther'al !o*er !lant> 12. 4rishi ,hu'i /a'ra+shana /a'iti) 8angalore ='ove'ent against 8angalore /?N> 13. 3ana Para Vedi+e 14. Parisaras+atara "++utu 15. 4o'u /ouhadrya Vedi+e A 4aravali regional initiative grou! can be started *ith these sta+eholders and it can gro* incre'entally. Et can begin by ta+ing stoc+ o$ the situationI identi$ying sta+e holdersI engaging *ith the'I building strategies to carry $or*ard the on going strugglesI and start a !lanning grou! $or the alternatives. The action !lan can be designed to: 1. ?ncourage and su!!ort ecologically unviable industries through a s*itch over to ecologically sustainable enter!rise. 2. (evelo! a !lan to restore the natural econo'y. The !lan should include rehabilitation o$ the *or+ers o$ the undesirable industries. 3. En the natural econo'y) eli'inate the neo liberal in$luences. Thus) increase the $ood acreage and reduce areca acreage. Reduce che'ical in!uts and go organic. 4. Encrease the $orest cover and its bio diversity. 5. /to! overe@!loitation o$ the sea through the use o$ big tra*lers $or $ishing. 6. (evelo! industries based on local resources li+e ba'boo and ti'ber to re!lace !roducts based on $ossil $uels.

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/o'e Essues
"ne o$ the 'ajor !roble's in this *or+ is the di$$iculty $or the !eo!le to get out o$ their !resent 'indsets and thin+ o$ a $uture *ith a changed scenario. %or e@a'!le) the unions have been 'ainly concerned about i'!roving their lot *ithin the syste'. <o* they have to be !re!ared to !artici!ate in evolving alternatives. This is becauseI 'any o$ their jobs *ill be redundant soon. /i'ilarly) 'any young !eo!le are as!iring $or careers in the service sector) !articularly in ban+ing and so$t*are. This is !roving to be a bubble that has already burst in the advanced ca!italist countries. /o the grou! has to *or+ to*ards building a*areness on the issue. Then the !lan has to include a list o$ livelihood o!!ortunities based on $ossil $uel $ree resources. The tas+ o$ relocation is al*ays !ain$ul and the grou! has to *or+ intensively in !re!aring *or+ers $or alternative jobsI su!!orting the' and their $a'ilies during the interi' !eriod. As has been said be$ore) this is just one !ersonAs vision and the actual !lan and activity can only be decided by the local grou!.

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TRA(? 5<E"< E<ETEATEV?/ towards a fossil fuel free society

8ajor changes in society are brought about through the organised e$$orts o$ !eo!le =su$$erers> ar'ed *ith the vision o$ a better society. ?vidently) along *ith other organisations o$ such !eo!le) the trade union 'ove'ent has a very signi$icant role to !lay. &o*ever) the alternative today) re!resents an alternative to industrialisation itsel$J &ere is an atte'!t to e@!lore the history o$ such initiatives and suggest *hat the 'ove'ent can do in the conte@t o$ the !resent crisis o$ ca!italis'.

Trade 5nions in the /truggle and Reconstruction

%or the last -0 years) trade unions have been in the $ore$ront in the struggle o$ all *or+ing !eo!le $or their due rights. :hen revolutionary changes occurred in Russia) China) Cuba) Vietna' and so on) they *ere in the $ore$ront both in the revolutionary 'ove'ent as *ell as in rebuilding o$ the society !ost the revolution. En trans$or'ing the !resent $ossil $uels de!endant ca!italist society into a $ossil $uel $ree society) the trade unions have a crucial role to !lay. As 8ar@ said) ca!ital creates its o*n gravediggers in the $or' o$ organised labour. :hereas today) ca!italis' is i'!loding) crashing do*n on its o*n. The rug o$ concentrated energy has been !ulled $ro' under its $eetI there is no alternative ready at hand. "rganised le$t all over the *orld) by and large) is not ready $or it in any signi$icant *ay. A large section o$ it *ent the social de'ocratic *ay) that is) ca!italist *ay under a socialist na'e. They shared !o*er and it got the' thoroughly corru!ted. The Endian le$t has $aired no better. Et is acting in an authoritarian $ashion K *here ever it is in !o*er. The trade union 'ove'ent *orld over has also got either corru!ted 1 *ith the union bosses acting li+e ca!italists 1 or has been so !oliticiDed) that it no longer re!resents the *or+ers or societyAs interests. The *or+ing class 'ove'ent and trade union 'ove'ent) there$ore) have to $ace the challenge in a di$$erent *ay. They have to !lan to be $ree $ro' their o*n !arty bosses and learn to act on their o*n.

Anarcho1/yndicalis'
/uch a tendency in the international *or+ing class 'ove'ent has been +no*n as anarcho1syndicalis'. Anarcho1syndicalis' is a branch o$ anarchis') *hich $ocuses on the labour 'ove'ent. /yndicalis' is a %rench *ord 'eaning Btrade unionis'A K hence) the Bsyndicalis'A Huali$ication. Anarcho1syndicalists vie* labour unions as a !otential $orce $or revolutionary social changeI re!lacing ca!italis' and the /tate *ith a ne*

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society) that is) a de'ocratically sel$1'anaged society by *or+ers. The basic !rinci!les o$ anarcho1syndicalis' are *or+ersM solidarity) direct action) and *or+ersM sel$1'anage'ent. :or+ersA solidarity 'eans that anarcho1syndicalists believe all *or+ers) no 'atter *hat their gender or ethnic grou!) are in a si'ilar situation *ith regard to their bosses =class consciousness>. %urther'ore) it 'eans that) in a ca!italist syste') any gains or losses 'ade by so'e *or+ers $ro' or to bosses *ill eventually a$$ect all *or+ers. There$ore) to liberate the'selves) all *or+ers 'ust su!!ort one another in their class con$lict. Anarcho1syndicalists believe that only direct action K that is) action concentrated on directly attaining a goal) as o!!osed to indirect action) such as electing a re!resentative to a govern'ent !osition K *ill allo* *or+ers to liberate the'selves. 8oreover) anarcho1syndicalists believe that *or+er organisations K the organisations that struggle against the *age syste') and *hich) in anarcho1syndicalist theory) *ill eventually $or' the basis o$ a ne* society K should be sel$1'anaging. They should not have bosses or Bbusiness agentsAI rather) the *or+ers should be able to 'a+e all the decisions that a$$ect the' the'selves. Rudol$ Roc+er !oints out that the anarcho1syndicalist union has a dual !ur!ose: . To en$orce the de'ands o$ the !roducers $or sa$eguarding and raising o$ their standard o$ livingI 2. To acHuaint the *or+ers *ith the technical 'anage'ent o$ !roduction and econo'ic li$e in general and !re!are the' to ta+e the socio1econo'ic organisation into their o*n hands and sha!e it according to socialist !rinci!les. En short) 'eaning) laying the $oundations o$ a ne* society B*ithin the shell o$ the oldA. 5! to the %irst :orld :ar and the ,olshevi+ Revolution) anarcho1syndicalist unions and organisations *ere the do'inant actors in the revolutionary le$t. A$ter the colla!se o$ /oviet 5nion in 990 and China ta+ing the ca!italist road) the co''unist 'ove'ent lost a lot o$ its !restige. Et led to a revival o$ anarchist tendency) co'bining it *ith ne*ly e'erging concerns o$ race) $e'inis' and environ'ent. Anarcho1syndicalis' re'ains a !o!ular and active school o$ anarchis' today and has 'any su!!orters as *ell as 'any currently active organisations. A green anarcho1syndicalist !ers!ective visualises *or+ers ta+ing over e@isting units and trans$or'ing the' into BgreenA alternatives. %or the rest o$ this essay it i'!lies creating a $ossil $uel $ree society.

Trade 5nions in Endia today

The trade union 'ove'ent in Endia re!resents less than ten !ercent o$ *or+ers. En ter's o$ nu'ber) ho*ever) it 'eans so'ething li+e 6 crores =6) 00) 00)000>. This) along *ith its long history) it still re!resents) a signi$icant !otential $orce in social change *hich is $ar 'ore than its 'ere strength in nu'bers. Trade unions have !layed an i'!ortant role in the national liberation 'ove'ent in the colonial conte@t as *ell as leading the *or+ers and !easants 'ove'ents both be$ore and a$ter Binde!endenceA. En the last $e* decades the agriculture and industrial sectors have been on a decline and the service sector has gro*n enor'ously. The trade union 'ove'ent has bases in the $irst t*o sectors and *ith their decline it has *ea+ened enor'ously. This has resulted in closure o$ a large nu'ber o$ industrial units) both large and s'all) and has 'ade 'illions o$ *or+ers to 'ove to

67

unorganised sectors *ith conseHuent relative i'!overish'ent. En the agriculture sector) the green revolution and globalisation has 'ade 'illions o$ s'all $ar'ers lose their land and turned the' into agricultural labour or i''igrants into city slu's as uns+illed labour. As a rule) traditional artisans have been losing their 'ar+et and are giving u! their trade and joining the urban and rural !oor. 8ajority o$ Endians today are e@!eriencing decline in their inco'e and living standards. The botto' 60L is e@!eriencing 'alnutrition) disease and death. 5rban and rural suicides a'ong *or+ing !eo!le have increased dra'atically in the last decade. The trade union 'ove'ent today is on the de$ensive. :or+ers are trying to !rotect their jobs and 'aintain their *ages in the $ace o$ rising in$lation. :hen the units close do*n they try to restart it and i$ that $ails they try to get their !rovident $und dues) get co'!ensations and so on. "rganisations li+e <agari+a 8anch in 4ol+ata) Centre $or ?ducation and Co''unication =C?C>) <e* Trade 5nion Enitiatives =<T5E>) #abour %ile) (elhi and 'any others have docu'ented their struggles and !light. Altogether they are $ighting a tough and losing battle. Today) the need o$ the hour is that they carry their struggle $or*ard in such a 'anner that it !re!ares the *or+ing !eo!le o$ the country to $ace the !resent crisis o$ ca!italis'. And it !re!ares the !eo!le to 'ove to*ards a $ossil $uel $ree society. %or that to ha!!en) *e 'ust $irst ta+e a loo+ at the history o$ such struggles *ithin the trade union 'ove'ent in Endia. These co'bined the ele'ents o$ B/truggle and ,uildA =Sangharsh aur .irman>.

The Endian situation

The 'ost i'!ortant $act today is that all the !arlia'entary !arties have abandoned the !oor and !articularly the trade union 'ove'ent. This has not ha!!ened overnight. A$ter the t*o1year drought in 92- and 922 and the conseHuent recession) there *as an u!surge in trade union and 'ass 'ove'ents. The ruling congress lost the election in eight states and 'any !olitical !arties s!lit and 'any ne* 'ove'ents *ere born. A$ter the ,angladesh *ar) Endira 7andhi rode on a nationalist =read $ascist> senti'ent and brutally su!!ressed 'ass 'ove'ents. En 90; there *as the great national rail*ay stri+e and <av <ir'an 8ove'ent in 7ujarat and the 3. P. 'ove'ent in ,ihar. To su!!ress it) the govern'ent e@!loded a nuclear device to once again regain nationalist senti'ent. Then the govern'ent declared e'ergency and let loose a $ascist terror ca'!aign against trade unions and 'ass 'ove'ents. &o*ever) the 'ass 'ove'ents continued even though 'any i'!ortant leaders *ere jailed. %inally) the govern'ent *as $orced to li$t the e'ergencyI conduct elections. The ruling Congress !arty lost the election heavily. ?ven a$ter the e'ergency status *as li$ted) the trade union leaders li+e A. 4. Roy and 7eorge %ernandes had to $ight the election $ro' jail. "nly a$ter having *on the election *ere they released $ro' jail. This BvictoryA) ho*ever) *as short lived. The coalition lost through in$ighting and 'ani!ulations by the Congress Party. The ruling !arty continued its !olitics o$ $o'enting regional as!irations and 'ani!ulations. %inally it bac+$ired and Endira 7andhi *as assassinated on "ctober 6 ) 9.;. That year 'ar+ed the end o$ su!!ort o$ !o!ular

68

'ove'ents by !arlia'entary !arties. "n a chilly 'orning on (ece'ber ;) 9.;) *hen every one *as aslee!) the *orst industrial accident in the *orld occurred in ,ho!al. Et +illed thousands o$ !eo!le i''ediately. :hile it dre* international attention and su!!ort $or the !eo!le and *or+ers o$ ,ho!alI not a single Endian !arlia'entary !arty =e@ce!t /ocialist 5nity Centre o$ Endia1 /5CE> ca'e out in su!!ort o$ the !eo!leJ /ince then) !arlia'entary !arties have re$used to su!!ort any !eo!leAs 'ove'ent) be it against the big da'sI against dis!lace'ent by Bdevelo!'entA !rojectsI !ollution by s!onge iron !lantsI or large1scale closure o$ industries and the subseHuent retrench'ent o$ *or+ers. ,y 99 ) *ith Endia getting on the band*agon o$ re$or') o$ liberalisation) !rivatisation and globalisation) the !rocess *as co'!lete. The govern'ent) and this ti'e all the !arlia'entary !arties) once again rode on the 'iddle class consent to its develo!'ent ideas) gro*th o$ 7(P) !ros!erity etc. at the cost o$ environ'ent and !eo!le. :ith oil !ea+ing this year the end o$ this era has begun.

Sangharsh 1ur .irman

:hy do these !arties abandon 'ass 'ove'entsF A brie$ ans*er *ould be B!o*er and greed $or !o*erA. En 920) *hen CPE =8> shared !o*er in :est ,engal and 3yoti ,asu *as the &o'e 8inister) he ordered !olice $iring on the agitating !easants in <a@albari +illing 'en) *o'en and children. Et also gave birth to the <a@alites 1 the largest anti1 !arlia'entary organised grou!. /i'ilarly) *hen these !arties tasted !o*er in 900 they once again dro!!ed their trade union co'rades. A. 4. Roy) the trade union leader in the 3haria coal$ields *as sus!ended $ro' CPE =8> and so *as /han+ar 7uha <iyogi) the trade union leader in ,hilai /teel Plant and iron ore 'ines. These events gave rise to inde!endent and creative trade union 'ove'ents in the 00s. The slogan) Sangharsh aur .irman =/truggle and ,uild> *as given by /han+ar 7uha <iyogi and he sy'bolised this trend. 5nder his leadershi!) the *or+ersA built the $a'ous /haheed &os!ital at (alli Rajhara K the 'ining to*n in Chhatisgarh. /ince then) 'any such !eo!lesA hos!itals have been built. En ,ihar) A. 4. Roy *as leading a red and green coalition bet*een *or+ers and tribal !easants *ho carried out land re$or's and !racticed collective $ar'ing. ?very*here *or+ers education !rogra''es had begun. En Ta'il <adu a big union o$ construction *or+ers ca'e into being and today it is building houses $or Tsuna'i a$$ected villagers. A $e* industries *ere and are being ta+en over by *or+ers in various !arts o$ the country. All these inde!endent and creative trade union 'ove'ents have had a rebirth in the 2 st century. En the beginning o$ this century the e$$ects o$ globalisation !ut a tre'endous !ressure on the *or+ing classI giving rise to a large nu'ber o$ 'ove'ents. A'ong these <T5E or the <e* Trade 5nion Enitiative is signi$icant. 8any o$ the constituents o$ <T5E are the erst*hile inde!endent trade union 'ove'ents 'entioned above. En its docu'ent it says B <T5E is a national !lat$or' o$ non1!artisan le$t1de'ocratic trade unions in the $or'al and in$or'al sectors o$ *or+ that re!resent *or+ers in agriculture) $orest)

69

construction) 'anu$acturing and services *ith the objective o$ $or'ing trade union $ederation.A En as 'uch as constituents o$ <T5E are not bound by !arty a$$iliation) <T5E has a relatively greater s!ace to loo+ at the e'erging issues.

%uture Endustrial /cenario

En a $ossil $uel $ree society the industrial scene *ill be radically di$$erent. %or this) the initiative ta+en by the *or+ers should on one hand allo* the' to have a better Huality o$ li$e and at the sa'e ti'e !re!are the' $or such a society. :e $irst ta+e a Huic+ loo+ at *hat *ill and *ill not be there. 1. ,ecause o$ the lac+ o$ a$$ordable $uel) the $irst sector a$$ected *ill obviously be trans!ort. #u@ury sectors li+e aviation are already under huge losses. ,oth Air Endia and Private airlines in Endia are !osting huge losses to the order o$ 'illions o$ dollars. The *orld $igure o$ losses is re!orted to be o$ the order o$ nine billion dollarsJ Truc+ers in ?uro!e are $acing !roble's o$ $uel shortage and !rices. This *ill in turn a$$ect international and long distance trade *ithin the country. Again) this in turn *ill a$$ect large1scale !rojects. To begin *ith) starting o$ ne* 'ega !rojects 1 be it in auto) !o*er generation) steel !lants) housing^ *ill be abandoned. ?@isting 'ega !rojects *ill either live their li$e out or close do*n. 8any o$ the service sectors *ill also vanish. Thus) there *ill be huge loss o$ jobs. 2. "n the other hand) this *ill also lead to 'ore local econo'y. Endustries that are needed) li+e $ood) housing and te@tiles 1 the $a'ous B/oti# kapda aur makanD *ill obviously survive) but at a 'ore local and regional level. The technology also *ill be si'!ler and o$ten based on biological !rocesses. Related local industries li+e rice 'ill) $lour'ill) oil 'ill and artisan trades li+e car!entry) !ottery) leather*or+ and s'ithy *ill survive and $lourish. This *ill generate a large nu'ber o$ ne* jobs. 3. %ood security through restoration o$ the $ertility o$ the soil and *ater security through restoration o$ the $orest *ith biodiversity *ill be the 'ain agenda o$ the co'ing decades. This *ill create 'illions o$ jobs in agriculture) $orestry and restoration o$ *ater bodies. 4. The science o$ agro ecology *ill $lourish. This *ill create ne* jobs in teaching right $ro' school to university level and o!en ne* research o!!ortunities.

Proble's o$ Trade 5nion initiative

:hile the $uture scenario is not all blea+) the actual !artici!ation o$ trade union in broader issues is a di$$icult one. ,y and large it has 'ainly been done *ith revolutionary !olitical !arties =in s!ite o$ all that *e said about the !olitical !arties in Endia and about anarchist tendencies in the 'ove'ent>. 1. "ne o$ the biggest !roble's) li+e rest o$ the society) the unions and *or+ers also $ind it di$$icult to believe that the industrial era is over. ?@ce!t Cuba) no !olitical !arty any*here is having such an agenda. 70

2. :e should re'e'ber that) although the tradition o$ anti industrial society ideas o$ Thoreau) Tolstoy and 7andhi has a history o$ 'ore than a century) it never had a big !resence. ?ven 7andhiAs 1 *ho had a big !resence in !re1inde!endence !olitics 1 ideas never really caught on. 3. The environ'ental issues o$ industrial health) air !ollution due to industry etc. that a$$ect the *or+ers directly) have had $e* ta+ers in the history o$ the *or+ing class 'ove'ent.

/o *hat should be the Trade 5nion initiative todayF

The trade union 'ove'ent is o$ten accused $or de'anding *age rise only. This should no* be seen in the conte@t o$ eHuity. The *or+ers) justi$iably) $eel they should get a higher share o$ the sur!lus value they generate. :hy should the bosses9ca!italists get such a high share o$ the !roduceF En the !resent crisis) their de'and *ould naturally be: let the e'!loyers $irst ta+e a cut in their earnings 1 the jobs 'ust be saved. /econdly) the ne* society and the ne* technologies cannot succeed unless *aste o$ resources 1 either by *ay o$ e'!loyers ta+ing their undue share or by irrational !roduction and consu'!tion o$ goods 1 is sto!!ed. This very correct de'and 'ust be co'bined *ith initiatives based on regional !lanning $or a $ossil $uel $ree society. :e cannot !lan in vacuu'. Et has to be in the conte@t o$ the actual situation o$ the region and the issues $aced by *or+ing !eo!le. The 'ove'ent today is $acing si@ +inds o$ situations related to the colla!se o$ ca!italis': 1. The ca!ital has abandoned and the units are closed. 2. The industry is running into losses and is !lanning to close do*n. 3. The industry is running but it has enor'ous contradiction *ith the co''unity due to !ollution o$ land and *ater. 4. <e* units are !ro!osed at the cost o$ tribals) !easants) environ'ent and9or the activity is irrational $ro' a $uturistic !ers!ective o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society. 5. The industry is running as a !art o$ the natural econo'y o$ the region and can easily $it into a $ossil $uel $uture. 6. <e* industrial activity is !lanned in tune *ith the needs o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society.

The Trade 5nion Res!onse

1. The initiative should $ocus on the $irst !roble' because the need is acute and a ne* activity can be !lanned. "ne o$ the $irst things to do *ill be to clai' the resources o$ the abandoned unit 1 land) housing colony) building) eHui!'ent and stores and cash co'!ensation. The initiative should be centered to*ards the 'ost distressed section o$ the *or+ing class and start *ith 'itigating the distress. &o*ever it should be done through ne* initiative o$ 'utual aid *hich *ould build a sense o$ co''unity. Et can start *ith ensuring $ood and shelter $or the *or+ing !eo!le. Co''unity +itchens could be one o$ the $irst things to start. 71

Vegetable) $ruit and agricultural activities should be i''ediately started. At the sa'e ti'e one should enter into a dialogue *ith the other *or+ing !eo!le o$ the region) *hich includes not only in$or'al sector *or+ers and !easants and artisans) but also !ro$essionals) *ho +no* the regionAs !otentials in ter's o$ alternatives. :herever !ossible su!!ort o$ !olitical organisations and 'ove'ents should be sought 1 li+e <a@alites) <AP8 and others. /lo*ly a collective alternative should be built u!. "$ course there *ill be re!ression by the state directly and indirectly. This is *here the 'ass su!!ort *ill !lay a crucial role. <agari+a 8anch in 4ol+ata and <T5E can !otentially do a lot o$ good *or+ in this area. :ithin the trade union 'ove'ent regional $ederation o$ all the unions 'ay be a ne* direction that the 'ove'ent 'ay have to ta+e. /o'e o$ the big o!!ortunities *e 'ay have !robably 'issed *ere the closure o$ 4olar 7old %ields and /indri %ertiliser %actory. En 4olar) the govern'ent o$$ered the *hole to*nshi! to the *or+ersJ ,ut) there are a lot 'any !laces *here the need is urgent. 2. En the !ast) *hen an industry *as !lanning closure) the unions tried to sto! it. Today it *ill not be advisable. Et is better to 'ove in early to bargain $or the *or+ers share in the closing !rocedure. #i+e in the case above the union can ta+e over the resources and run a ne* activity in collaboration *ith regional sta+eholders. 3. The 'ost di$$icult situation is one *here the industry is running and the Trade 5nion 'ove'ent is co'ing in shar! contradiction *ith the local !o!ulation and environ'ent grou!s. A classic e@a'!le is the Coco Cola $actory in Plachi'ada in 4erala. &ere the $irst need is to start a dialogue bet*een all the sta+eholders. "ne should $irst co'e to an agree'ent on the long1ter' goals. Then) *or+ to*ards a !ath *here all the sta+eholdersA needs are satis$ied as *ell as the goal =closure o$ $actory and alternative BgreenA e'!loy'ent generation> is achieved. The case o$ shi$ting s'all1scale industry out o$ (elhi due to the !ollution caused is another such case. 4. En instances *here ne* irrational industrial activities are co'ing u!) the !ath is Huite clear. :e have to join other 'ove'ents *hich are o!!osing the' and initiate alternate regional !lanning $or a green $ossil $uel $ree society. The coal1 based !o*er !lant in <andi+ur in 5du!i district is one such case. /o $ar) the resistance has succeeded in !reventing three !revious atte'!ts to set it u!. The !resent atte'!t o$ setting u! the !lant a!!ears to be succeeding in so $ar as building activity is going on. ,ut *hether the crisis *ill allo* it to co'!lete construction or not is so'ething that only ti'e can tell. /i'ilarly) the 8angalore /?N and the /?Ns all over the country are $acing a big resistance $ro' the !eo!le. 5. En cases *here the industry $its in easily *ith a $ossil $uel $ree $uture) the e$$ort should be to save the industry. "ne can then 'ove to*ards) a greater share o$ *or+er !artici!ation in running the industryI better conditions o$ *or+I 'a+ing

72

the industry BgreenerA etc. 6. %inally) *herever ne* industrial activity is !lanned in tune *ith the needs o$ a $uture society) the /yndicalist a!!roach can be !ut to $ull use. The *or+ers can o*n the activity in so'e $or' o$ the coo!erative run *ith $ull coo!eration o$ regional sta+eholders. %or the sa+e o$ si'!licity) E have avoided !utting disclai'ers throughout the essay. E a' a*are that one !erson cannot be !rescri!tive to a great 'ove'ent li+e) the Endian trade union 'ove'ent is. /o) the contents should be ta+en as 'aterial $or *or+er education in the trade union 'ove'ent.

73

5rban Enitiatives
towards a fossil fuel free society En tac+ling !roble's arising out o$ acute shortage o$ $ossil $uels) *e *ould need to $ocus
on urban areas becauseI they consu'e bul+ o$ the energy derived $ro' $ossil $uels. 5rban areas are energy intensive on account o$ being centers o$ econo'ic) !olitical) ad'inistrative !o*er) and o$ten) centers o$ learning and culture. (e'ands in rural areas are in$luenced by trends in urban areas. Also) *ithin urban agglo'erates) de'ands in s'aller cities are in$luenced by bigger cities. ConseHuently reduced de'ands in urban areas *ill have a s!illover e$$ect into the other areas.

5rban Endia
Endia has an urban !o!ulation o$ 600 'illion) greater than the !o!ulation o$ 5/A) or $or that 'atter) greater than any country e@ce!t China. This urban Endian !o!ulation lives in a total o$ ;00 urban agglo'erates. "$ this urban !o!ulation) 'ore than hal$ = .0 'illion> lives in 6- cities that have a !o!ulation greater than a 'illion. The three 'etros) 8u'bai) 4ol+ata and (elhi have 'ore than 0 'illion residents. &yderabad and ,engaluru) have 'ore than - 'illion. Et *ill be easier to tac+le the !roble's o$ 20 'illion !eo!le *ho live in 62- urban agglo'erates o$ less than a 'illion) and 'any o$ the success stories *ill $irst co'e $ro' the'. "n the other hand) 'any grou!s and individuals in bigger cities are 'ore a*are and have resources to start alternatives. They can hel! grou!s and residents in s'aller to*ns.

The 5rban 'indset

,e$ore *e ta+e u! concrete !rogra''es) *e should $irst understand the urban 'indset. This is crucial in *or+ing out the details o$ the !rogra''es. En urban areas) individualis' or alienation is very signi$icant. Peo!le are used to being on their o*nI not relating *ith their neighbours. Any solution to urban !roble's *ill have to tac+le this issue $irst. Ca!italis' breeds ca!italist individualis' and brea+s do*n co''unities. :hat is ca!italist individualis'F Et is the belie$ that one is $ree i$ one has 'oney in oneAs !oc+et to s!end as one li+es. The 'ore the 'oney) the 'ore the $reedo'J &o*ever) this very 'oney is obtained through jobsI *hich i'!lies) *age slavery. /o) at one level) this $reedo' is 'ythical. At another level) historically) it 'eant getting out o$ the o!!ressive bondage o$ a caste syste' or a !atriarchal $a'ily. /o) it did 'ean $reedo'. Thus the gro*th o$ ca!italist individualis' and the brea+ing do*n o$ co''unities are one and the sa'e !rocesses. The de'ocratic state also aids the !rocess o$ brea+ing do*n co''unities through !ro'ises o$ a *el$are state and through +illing traditions o$ sel$1 'anage'ent o$ local issues.

74

The real $reedo' is to get out o$ *age slavery and $eudal bondage. "n the other hand) the hu'an s!ecies is a social s!ecies. &o* do *e co'bine the urge $or $reedo' *ith the need to be !art o$ a co''unityF Et cannot be done by going to the !ast and building the co''unity on the basis o$ caste) as 7andhi tried to do. :e !ro!ose that this be done by disengaging *ith ca!ital and the state and rebuilding the co''unity on the basis o$ a free association of free people. :hat does it 'ean in !racticeI and *here and ho* does one beginF The basis o$ oneAs $reedo' is in res!ecting the other !ersonAs $reedo'. Res!ecting) loving and caring $or the other is the basic !rinci!le on *hich a $ree association can be built. /o) *e should get to +no* each other directly) be they !oor or rich) o$ our caste9class or o$ another. ,ut our historyI our vie*sI inhibits us. #earning to acco''odate diversity *ill be the basis $or building co''unity. :e start $ro' *here *e are and 'ove in the direction. :e should credit ourselves on ho* 'uch diversity *e can relate to) !articularly *ith the !oorest $a'iliesI !eo!le living in bastesI servantsI so1 called untouchablesI and so on. En urban areas) there is a horri$yingly stu!endous *aste o$ $ood because things co'e easily to the *ell1o$$ sections. Peo!le in urban areas do not !roduce $ood. "ther*ise) they *ould have +no*n better. :e should reduce both consu'!tion and *aste syste'atically and incre'entally. /o *hen *e are discussing concrete !rojects they are not just technological $i@es o$ !ublic trans!ort versus !rivateI se!arating solid *aste at sourceI urban gardeningI changing incandescent bulbs to C%# bulbs etc. Et *ill reHuire rebuilding the co''unity and that can be done 'ainly through local associations and trade unions. En 'ost o$ these initiatives) the siDe o$ the co''unity should be on hu'an scale) say a !o!ulation o$ 0)000 or so.

Children
En urban areas) children have lost their childhood) !articularly in 'etro!olitan situations. They are engul$ed in the vicious circle o$ school) tuition and consu'eris' !ro'oted by TV channels and !eer1grou! !ressures. "rganising childrenAs grou!s !lay and library at a local level is a very i'!ortant activity. As $ar as !ossible) encourage children to go to local schools so as to cut !recious travel ti'e and save trans!ort costs and $ossil $uels. :e have to !ose the Huestion) B:hy canAt *e 'a+e the local school as good as the distant oneFA :e should actively !artici!ate in the 'anage'ent o$ local schools) be they !rivateI govern'entI or those run by local associations. "rganising childrenAs eco1clubs) either at the school or in the locality can be very re*arding. Children are rece!tive to ne* ideas and so'e o$ the local initiatives described belo* can be started at these clubs.

75

/olid *aste dis!osal and urban gardens

The urban situation i'!lies se!aration o$ !eo!le $ro' the land. <utrients are trans!orted a*ay $ro' the cro!s and $ar's *here they originateI accu'ulate) in !art) as *aste in the citiesI de!rive $ar' land the nutrient that *ould have other*ise been recycled at siteI !rogressively de!lete $ar' land soil HualityI and are a reason $or urban $ilth. 5rban *aste dis!osal 'ethods thus) cut at the very root o$ the nitrogen cycle by not allo*ing the biodegradable *aste =the nutrients o$ the soil> to go bac+ to the soil. &ence) se!aration o$ biodegradable *aste at the source and co'!osting at an individual or co''unity level is an absolute 'ust. Related issues are rain*ater harvesting and urban vegetable gardens. These *ill reduce trans!ort costs 1 both in trans!orting *aste to du'!s outside the city and bringing vegetable to to*nI !rovide $resh $oodI and 'a+e $or consu'!tion o$ the co'!ost !roduced locally. This ta+es care o$ nearly 00 !er cent o$ the *aste. The re'aining *aste such as 'etal) glass) !lastics) etc. can be recycled 'ore easily and in greater Huantities since it is already se!arated.

%uel
Al'ost all do'estic $uel consu'ed in cities today is o$ $ossil $uel origin. :ith the cost o$ coo+ing gas and +erosene slo*ly going u!) !eo!le *ill be $orced to 'ove to *ood1based $uels. :here is the *ood $or thisF "ur $orests are already under great stress. The only solution is to gro* $uel *ood *ithin the city. 5nless *e start right no*) *e *ill not be ready *hen the crisis dee!ens) as trees ta+e ti'e to gro*. Also) solar bo@ coo+ers9ovens can save at1least hal$ the total coo+ing $uel.

Trans!ort
Trans!ort is the biggest $ossil $uel guDDler today. :e have discussed childrenAs school trans!ort) trans!ort o$ solid *aste and bringing in vegetables and $ruits $ro' rural areas. There still re'ains general *ithin1the1city trans!ort. En big cities t*o *heelers) cars and auto ric+sha*s create terrible !roble's o$ road accidents and air !ollution. Recent rise in $uel !rices are !utting great !ressures on t*o and three *heelers because they are used by relatively lo*er inco'e grou!s. 8any auto drivers $eel that the days o$ autos are nu'bered and that cycle ric+sha* *ill co'e bac+. 8ost !robably) there *ill be a !hase o$ sharing autos be$ore they get !hased out. /i'ilarly) $or t*o *heelers they !robably *ill go through a !hase o$ battery o!erated #una style 'inis or bicycles. Et *ill all ha!!en $irst in s'aller to*ns and then in bigger cities. /'all to*ns *ith distances o$ +' or so donAt need any $ossil $uel vehicles. Et is just a!ing the big cities and e@!ression o$ !o*er. They can easily launch on the !ath o$ beco'ing $ossil $uel $ree straight a*ay. /o) as stated be$ore) it *ill be easier to ta+e the initiative in s'aller to*ns. E'!roved cycle ric+sha*s 1 lighter and *ith gears 1 have been around $or so'e ti'e. En (elhi) Chandigarh) Agra) 8athura and 3ai!ur several thousands !ly. En 8aharashtra there is a design *here in the ric+sha* !uller can rearrange the seat and convert it into a bedJ %or the bigger cities) there *ill have to be a 'ore co'$ortable and rational urban !ublic 76

trans!ort syste'. Et is a !olitical battle *hich 'any civil society grou!s are *aging. 8ean*hile local grou!s can ta+e initiatives in the use o$ cycles and in bringing bac+ the cycle ric+sha*s) !articularly in the outlaying areas.

:ater
The siDe o$ any hu'an settle'ent is deter'ined by the a'ount o$ *ater available. Today al'ost all the 'illion !lus cities and 'any s'aller cities are de!endent on *ater being brought $ro' a distant river or la+e. En 'any cases this *as reHuired not only because o$ increase in !o!ulation) but also due to !ollution o$ the e@isting source. There *ill de$initely be con$lict over the issues in the $uture. The ai' should be that every hu'an settle'ent is sel$1su$$icient in *ater resources. T*o initiatives are !ossible: > :ater harvesting $ro' roo$s o$ individual buildings) 2> Cleaning u! the e@isting *ater sources to 'a+e *ater !otable. This *ill reHuire) 'andatory cleaning and treat'ent at the !olluting source.

&ealth Care
5rban li$estyles) !ollution) and che'ical addiction =narcotics) tobacco) and alcohol> have created severe health !roble's. PrivatiDation o$ health care) !articularly cor!oratisation) has 'ade it the biggest direct e@!loiter o$ the !eo!le. Pediatric and geriatric health care are !articularly !rone to e@!loitation as they involve the e'otions o$ !eo!le. There is an urgent need to initiate co''unity1based !eo!leAs health care grou!s *hose ai's can be: . To 'ove to*ards in$or'ed sel$1care. 2. To !ro'ote healthy li$estyles and !reventive health care. 6. To !rovide !ro$essional care service through a trained $a'ily !hysician.

Consu'er Co1o!eratives
5rban li$e is do'inated by irrational consu'eris' and choices in the 'ar+et that are not easy to discern. /o the basis $or the local sho! should be a li'ited choice o$ reliable !roducts in ter's o$ Huality and !rice. This *ill reduce inventories and save 'oney both $or the sho!+ee!er and the consu'er. The sho! can be +e!t by any one in the co''unity or can be run by a society. A co''itted 'e'bershi! hel!s in bul+ !urchases. The co''unity can also *or+ *ith one village $or bul+ !urchase o$ organic !roducts.

5nto the last

En rebuilding the co''unity the needs o$ the !oorest co'e $irst. :hile charity 'ay be needed initially to overco'e hunger and starvation) the long1ter' solution is to create ne* jobs *ithin the co''unity) such as those o$ gardeners and co'!ost 'a+ers) cycle ric+sha* drivers and re!air !ersons) jobs associated *ith local cr_ches) local ba+eries) co''unity service centers) !lu'bers) car!enters) 'asons) tailors) general re!air and 'aintenance *or+ers etc. The goal should be that basic securities o$ shelter) $ood) $uel) education o$ children and health care should be available to all irres!ective o$ inco'e *ithin the co''unity) and *ith the co''unityAs resources. 77

7et started
"ne should begin *ith onesel$ and start i'!le'enting so'e o$ the ideas *ithin oneAs o*n control. %or e@a'!le) one can start using bicycles) segregating *aste at source) buying a solar coo+er) !lanting a tree etc. Then one should start $or'ing a grou!. The $irst thing is to educate the grou! about Pea+ "il. Then one can start !lanning activities given the resources o$ the grou!. The ai' should be to *or+ *ithin the resources o$ the 'icro co''unity one is a !art o$. %ederal lin+s and 'utual su!!ort *ith si'ilar neighbourhood grou!s *ill co'e later. As soon as !ossible) 'e'bers o$ the grou! should join associations and trade unions *ithin the co''unity as *ell as beco'e 'e'bers o$ the e@isting city grou!s such as bird society) sna+e club) horticultural society) environ'ental grou!s and so on. This *ill give access to vital resources *ithin the city. Tal+ing about Pea+ "il can be very $rustrating in the beginning. :e are all so used to our li$e style) !articularly i$ *e belong to the 'iddle and u!!er1'iddle class that it is di$$icult to conceive li$e *ithout oil. As ,ush said) *e are addicted to oil. And li+e in all addiction cases the $irst stage is to deny that there is a !roble'. Then to ho!e that so'e 'agic technology solution *ill co'e and so on. "$ course events o$ rising !rices do hel! but it is still very di$$icult to overco'e inertia cou!led *ith the !roble' o$ alienation as has been discussed above. Et 'ay) there$ore) be easier to *or+ in s'aller to*ns. /o i$ *e are living in big cities) it 'ay be *orth*hile to develo! lin+s *ith the nearest s'all to*n and either 'ove there or develo! initiatives there. %inally) it 'ay be *orth*hile to loo+ at CubaAs e@!erience.

78

R5RA# E<ETEATEV?/
towards a fossil fuel free society

Rural Endia
Endia is a large country *ith about 200)000 rural co''unities. ?vidently there can be no one ty!e o$ village. To loo+ at it 'eaning$ully *e should thin+ in ter's o$ ecology or biogeogra!hic Dones as discussed in cha!ter 2. These s'aller regions de$ine the +ind o$ $ood gro*n and hence the +ind o$ village and the village co''unity. Then one has to loo+ at the' in ter's o$ recent history. :hile the country as a *hole has e@!erienced ca!italist develo!'ent and the rural areas have not been una$$ected by it) there are regional variations. As a rule ?astern Endia has seen lo*er develo!'ents o$ ca!italis' than the <orth) :est and the /outh. &o*ever) *ithin each o$ these regions) there are tribal hinterlands that still live on subsistence econo'y.

Rural issues
0conomy The 'ain result o$ invasion o$ ca!italis' !ushed by the state in rural areas is the increased cash needs o$ the villagers $or health) education and trans!ort. This has led to co''ercial and che'ical agriculture. This in turn has 'eant cash in!uts $or irrigation) che'ical $ertilisers) and !esticides. Enitially this did increase !roduction and led to $urther increase in rural consu'eris'. /oon) ho*ever) the cash inco'e due to agriculture beca'e less than the e@!enditure on in!uts and other ite's. Et led to debt tra!s and the *orst1o$$ resorted to suicide. Rural !overty is increasing although govern'ent statistics say other*ise. Acreage) !roductivity and hence total !roduction o$ several $ood cro!s have been decreasing $or the last seven years. Per ca!ita availability o$ $ood has also continuously $allen. There has been continuous 'igration $ro' the rural areas to the cities. Society The 'onetiDation o$ the rural econo'y has bro+en the social $abric in a big *ay. Cash in the !oc+et brings individualis' and brea+s the co''unity. /ince the needs o$ the co''unity re'ain) it reasserts in a cash 'anner. Co''unity $unctions) births) 'arriage) deaths) $estivals have beco'e increasingly e@!ensive. Annual $estivals attract 'igrants bac+ ho'e and they have to sho* o$$ by s!ending 'oney. This increase in cash e@!enditure together *ith increased e@!enditure on health) education and trans!ort has !ut rural society in great distress. Rural alcoholis' and even consu'!tion o$ narcotics have increased signi$icantly.

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Conflicts Rural Endia has al*ays $aced intense class con$licts and there have been !easant 'ove'ents and agricultural labour 'ove'ents and tribal 'ove'ents all the ti'e. &istorically) the Co''unist 8ove'ent in Endia has !layed a 'ajor role in hel!ing the rural !oor. En recent years the issue o$ develo!'ent !rojects acHuiring lands has beco'e a 'ajor source o$ con$lict. ,ased on the !ast e@!erience) villagers no longer *ant to give land because in the !ast !ro'ises o$ land) jobs etc. have not co'e true. :hile 'any !rotests began *ith river da' !rojects) today it has 'oved on to !rojects involving 'ines) s!onge iron !lants) large steel !lants) coal based ther'al !o*er !lants) /?Ns and even car !rojects. :hile the issue o$ land and livelihood re'ain i'!ortantI the issues o$ environ'ent degradation and global *ar'ing are also beco'ing serious and several sections o$ society) rural and urban) are joining the !rotests. The biggest current con$lict is 'ainly in 'ineral rich resource areas o$ Chhatisgarh. &ere the /tate has declared a *ar on the tribal !eo!le) $orcing the' to 'igrate out so that !o*er !lants and steel !lants can be set u!. :hile 8aoists are an i'!ortant grou! in !eo!leAs 'ove'ent) a very large nu'ber o$ other grou!s and !ro$essionals are also !art o$ the 'ove'ent. These coalitions) cou!led *ith the history o$ rural reconstruction 'ove'ent in Endia) carry the seeds o$ building a $uture $ossil $uel $ree society.

Rural initiatives
1ims The ai's o$ the initiatives can be: . To rebuild the co''unity $abric on the basis o$ eHuality. 2. To rebuild the rural econo'y on the basis o$ a $ossil $uel $ree society. Et is i'!ortant to re'e'ber that the t*o objectives are inse!arable. Et is entirely !ossible to use $ossil $uel $ree technologies) li+e organic $ra'ing) solar) *ood gassi$iers etc. to su!!ort ca!italist enter!rises. This *ill not solve the !roble's and !rojects li+e bio$uels *ill even increase the !roble's. Guidelines /o'e guideline to achieve the ai's could loo+ li+e this: . Ai' at local control) nurture) and care o$ natural resources. /ee+ $ood) *ater) and health security on a local sel$1su$$icient and sel$1'anaged basis. The ai' o$ agriculture is !ri'arily sustenance o$ li$e. Cash cro!s are only a su!!le'ent $or obtaining essentials li+e salt) s!ecial 'edication) boo+s) stationery) s!ecialised tools) utensils etc. As such) they can only be about - !er cent o$ the out!ut. All in!uts to agriculture should co'e $ro' the land itsel$. 2. Another 'ajor issue in any co''unity is e@tre'ely uneHual o*nershi! o$ resources)

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!articularly land. "ne should consider that land does not belong to any one) least o$ all to the state. The co''unity should collectively control it. The land and other resources should $eed all the !eo!le. Peo!le should be caring to*ards each other. E$ that is absent) then *e *ill be !artici!ating in the govern'ent syste'. 6. There are so'e !eo!le *ho are not able to do *or+. They 'ay be old) sic+) handica!!ed... Et should be the res!onsibility o$ the union9social organisation or even the <7"s that these !eo!le have access to $ood and healthcare. ;. &ealth is al*ays an i'!ortant issue and social organisations have to ta+e an initiative in it. The ai' o$ health !rogra''es should be in$or'ed sel$1care. En dealing *ith the e@isting health and education institutions in our co''unity) *e should relate *ith the !ersonnel on the basis o$ treating the' as 'e'bers o$ our co''unity and not as Bthe'A. :e should try to get *hat is availableI but 'ore i'!ortant is to involve the' in the co''unity1building !rocessI obtaining relevant education and health care. -. En as 'uch as village society has 'ore caste and !atriarchal hierarchies) good results *ill be obtained *hen *e *or+ *ith children. ?ducation can involve a lot o$ agriculture and nature conservation activity. En $act) that can be the 'ain ai' o$ education 1 to learn s+ills and +no*ledge $or sustenance o$ li$e. 8any schools have nature clubs and eco clubs. The design o$ activity o$ these clubs should be such that they $ollo* nature and the agricultural calendar. This activity should be cou!led *ith greater $orest acreage) biodiversity and conservation o$ endangered s!ecies o$ $lora and $auna. Rural initiatives: s!eci$ic e@a'!les /ebuilding communities There are scores o$ e@a'!les o$ rebuilding co''unities in the Endian e@!erience. To begin *ith) there are co''unist e@!eriences in the Telengana struggle and 'ore recently 8aoist Bliberated areasA. &ere a*areness o$ ideas o$ eHuality and end o$ e@!loitation o$ 'an by 'an has been the do'inant 'essage. Enstitutional o!!ression o$ caste) religion and obscurant ideas has been attac+ed. :o'enAs rights and *o'enAs !artici!ation also has been i'!ortant. #and re$or's *ere carried out and coo!erative agriculture has been !ractised. Co''unity health and education have been stressed. A 'ajor !roble' these organisations $ace is to have a !ro!er balance bet*een engaging *ith the state in the $or' o$ ar'ed struggle and rebuilding co''unities. "$ten the $or'er ta+es a lot o$ energy o$ the organisations and 'any issues such as environ'ent are neglected. There has been very i'!ortant *or+ carried out in this $ield. Anna &aDareAs *or+ in Ralegaon /iddhi) near Pune) co'bined rebuilding co''unity *ith anti alcohol and anti tobacco 'ove'ent) *ater harvesting and i'!roving agriculture. The village 8endha =#e+ha> in 7adchiorli district o$ 8aharashtra beca'e $a'ous *ith its declaration) B:e have our govern'ent in (elhi and 8u'bai) but in our village *e ourselves are the govern'entA. Et is a village inhabited by the 7ond tribe. They !ractice direct de'ocracy) ta+e decisions by consensus and not by 'ajority. They have carried out i'!ortant *or+

81

in rebuilding the co''unity in ter's o$ decision 'a+ing !rocess) reviving 7otul) increasing *o'enAs !artici!ation) reclai'ing $orest etc. 5nli+e the co''unists) these grou!s do not challenge the /tate and in $act are able to use the /tate develo!'ent $unds e$$ectively. Et has also been argued that *ithout the village !eo!leAs organisation) state $unds usually get 'isused. They have also *or+ed closely *ith the <7"s. En both these !rojects there is high a*areness o$ environ'ent degradation due to B'odernA li$e. "ne o$ the criticis's o$ these e@a'!les is that they have not been re!licated either in the neighbouring villages *here conditions are si'ilar nor have they ins!ired other social *or+ers to be able to re!licate the'. 8any 'ove'ents also try to carry out ne* initiatives) although their energies are 'ore needed in the 'ove'ent. En the <ar'ada ,achao 8ove'ent) they have tried to build alternative school and alternative technology !rojects and !lanning e@ercises.

%ossil %uel %ree Technologies

Endia has a rich e@!erience o$ $ossil $uel technologies. The *orldAs $irst biogas !lant *as installed in ,o'bay in the 9th century. Albert &o*ard) $ather o$ 'odern organic $ar'ing *or+ed in Endia u!to the 960s and develo!ed the Endore 'ethod. Endia is the largest user o$ bo@ solar coo+ers. Rural Endia is still a bicycle and bulloc+ cart country. "nly the rich in rural Endia are able to use ce'ent in any signi$icant Huantity. 8ud houses are still around. #aurie ,a+erAs *or+ in 'ud houses is *ell +no*n. &and s!un and hand *oven cloth) 4hadi is still available all over the country and so on. Today there is a crisis o$ che'ical $ertiliser su!!ly due to !ea+ oil. /o) even the govern'ent is !ro'oting organic $ar'ing in a big *ay. There are large *atershed and joint $orest 'anage'ent !rogra''e s!onsored by the govern'ent. A large nu'ber o$ technology institutes have a!!ro!riate technology !rogra''es. &o*ever technology $i@es alone do not solve the !roble'. They can even be used to !ro'ote ca!italis') 'a+e the rich richer and !oor the !oorer. They 'ay even degrade the environ'ent $urther) li+e !ro'oting bio$uels or carbon trading. &ence) the t*in ai's o$ rebuilding co''unity on the basis o$ eHuality and building a $ossil $uel society 'ust go hand in hand.

:here to ,eginF
En !ractice one should start $ro' *here one is. ?nsure that the tiller gets his $ull share o$ the labour *hether he9she o*ns the land or not. Absentee landlords should get only *hat they !ut in. The botto' line is) no one in the co''unity goes hungry. :e have re!eatedly said through!ut this boo+ that it is the organisation o$ !eo!le that can really bring about change. Also the $act re'ains that in 'ost cases the organisations are co'ing u! in the conte@t o$ struggle against ca!italist e@!loitation o$ resources and degradation o$ the environ'ent. /o the initiatives) 'entioned above) *ould be ta+en u!

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*ithin this real historical conte@t. And the nature o$ the struggle *ill deter'ine the +ind o$ initiatives. The guide lines and the e@a'!les 'entioned above 'ay hel! to visualise the initiatives.

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:&AT CA< E ("F

Endia has a !o!ulation o$ 'ore than a billion or hundred crores. And each individual is di$$erent. /o ho* can one *rite about B:hat E can doFA "ne can reduce the !roble' by assu'ing BEA to be a reader. /o the reader is an educated 'iddle class urban9rural !erson. /he9he already has so'e e@!osure to the environ'ent) cli'ate change) global *ar'ing) !ea+ oil and the nature o$ the !resent econo'ic crisis. The reader has also !robably seen articles li+e A 00 thing one can do to save the !lanetA or B&o* to save the !lanet by !utting in - 'inutes every dayA. /o *hat can one doF As a general rule the +ey *ord is voluntary si'!licity at a !ersonal level. Et is o$course true that one !erson reducing her9his energy consu'!tion9eco $oot !rint cannot signi$icantly change the situation. As the critics o$ten say) Bi$ you donAt use it so'e one else *ill use itA. ,ut it does give one the 'oral energy to go ahead and involve in larger issues in larger conte@ts. A$ter all one does $ace the Huestion) B:hat are you doing about itFA :hat is your $oot !rintF /econdly it can also be argued that si'!licity or going a bit a*ay $ro' the consu'er society actually gives one 'ore ti'e to do things. The +ey $actor in voluntary si'!licity is energy) !articularly energy $ro' $ossil $uel sources. Thus giving u! !ersonal car9t*o *heeler and ado!ting bicycle and !ublic trans!ort is high on the agenda. The second is $uel) $ood and *ater. 5sing solar coo+er to su!!le'ent coo+ing and co'!osting and !roducing so'e vegetable9$ruit and rain *ater harvesting are eHually high in !riority. A single !erson on oneAs o*n can do very little because she or he has very little ti'e or resources. (aily li$e and e$$orts to survive ta+e their toll on ti'e and resources. /till a !erson *ho is a*are can 'a+e choices and can 'a+e signi$icant contributions. 5sually such a !erson can begin *ith acHuiring so'e e@!erience o$ environ'ental 'ove'ents. As has been said in the earlier cha!ters re!eatedly) changes occur 'ainly through the e$$orts o$ organised !eo!le. /o a!art $ro' !utting individual e$$orts in oneAs daily li$e) and acHuiring so'e +no*ledge o$ environ'ental 'ove'ents) one o$ the $irst things one should do is to be a !art o$ an organisation. This can be an environ'ental organisation) a bird *atching society or even a $il' club. ?very*here one *ill $ind the current crisis re$lected and there is so'ething to learn and so'ething to do. &o*ever) the !ri'ary organisations are in oneAs *or+ !lace and in oneAs residential area. /o'e o$ the ideas !resented in the cha!ters) BTrade 5nion EnitiativesA and B5rban EnitiativesA 'ay !rove hel!$ul. <o* *ithin an organisation there is al*ays a s!ace $or individual initiative. En $act the organisation is strengthened by individual e$$orts. %or instance) *ithin an urban grou! a !erson can $ocus attention on solar coo+ers) or trans!ort or urban gardens and co'!osting or roo$to! rain *ater harvesting. Then one can *or+ *ith schools and nature clubs) run 84

libraries and boo+sho!s and so on. /o'e have 'oved to rural areas) bought land and !lan to do organic $ar'ing. /o'e 'ay already be *ell into it. 8any have done very good *or+ and are building local co''unities around the $ar'. These readers 'ay bene$it $ro' the cha!ter BRural EnitiativesA. %or instance *ithin a $ar' one can $ocus on co'!osting or seed collection and seed ban+s. Then one can *or+ on energy !rojects li+e *ood gassi$iers or 'icro hydel !rojects. "ne can *or+ *ith ba'boo or learn ho* to 'a+e ro!es or !ottery. Then *ithin the co''unity one can *or+ *ith schools) *o'en) sanitation and health and so on. There is no dearth o$ *or+ either in an urban or in rural situation once one has gras!ed the basic situation. The Author hi'sel$) a!art $ro' *riting these articles and the boo+ has tried out so'e o$ the urban initiatives. <eedless to say these e$$orts are !uny co'!ared to *hat is needed. The author also has *or+ed *ith 'any individuals to *or+ out !ersonal !aths o$ incre'ental change. Again these e$$orts have had li'ited success. The author is *illing to hel! any reader in evolving !ersonaliDed !aths $or action. :e are all $acing a very tough situation and it *ill get only *orse. The e$$orts in this boo+ have been to sho* the reader that a better *orld is !ossible and there are *ays to go about it. En the long run it 'ay be *orth the e$$ort.

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A!!endi@ T&? G5A4?R 8?T&"(

En 'any !laces in the boo+) the need $or dialogue bet*een di$$erent grou!s has been stressed. En this conte@t) it 'ay be !rudent to acHuaint onesel$ *ith one o$ the oldest and very success$ul 'ethod o$ conducting 'eetings. The Gua+er 'ethod has been recognised all over the *orld. Et ta+es a seat o$ !ro'inence) in the 5nited <ations) in con$lict resolution. "riginated in ?ngland) Gua+ers have had a !resence o$ 'ore than a century in Endia. They enjoyed 'utual res!ect *ith 7andhi. The Gua+er 8ethod o$ conducting 'eetings has !roved very use$ul in !olitical 'ove'ents in recent ti'es. Gua+ersA real na'e is /ociety o$ %riends. They are an antiauthoritarian Christian religious grou! nearly $our hundred years old. They do not advertise the'selves or !ractice conversion. You beco'e a BGua+er by Convince'entA. En $act there are Gua+ers *ho are agnostics. Gua+ers can be considered as belonging to !aci$ist anarchist tendencies) *hich include the ideas o$ Tolstoy and 7andhi. Gua+ers believe that there is divinity in every individual. This !rinci!le translated in secular ter's a'ounts to the idea that every one has access to so'e as!ect o$ the Truth. En 'eetings and dialogues) it is assu'ed that all are searching $or truth) that you listen to others care$ully and e@a'ine your o*n truth. The objective is not to arrive at a co'!ro'ise) consensus or agree'ent) but to realise truth collectively as 'uch as !ossible. This 'ethod is not uniHue to Gua+ers. Gua+ers the'selves observed si'ilar 'ethods in A'erican =Red> Endians. <earer ho'e) there are re!orts o$ 7ond tribals in 7adchiorli discussing issues threadbare and reaching a decision only *hen everyone *as clear about it and agreed to it. En recent ti'es in anti1globalisation de'onstrations all over the *orld) grou!s believing in non1violence and grou!s believing in Bunconventional tacticsA including violence) learned to *or+ together success$ully. At the /eattle !rotest against :T") the varied grou!s involved used this 'ethod to act in unison.

Collective Entelligence and Gua+er Practice

By =eonard Eoy Fleonard>oyBigc%orgG The *ays in *hich society generally !rovides $or collective discern'ent and decision1 'a+ing are ill designed to ta! our collective intelligence and do 'uch to e@!lain our collective inability to discern and !ursue the co''on good. The $act that adversarial debate is li+ely to $ail to res!ect all needs and legiti'ate interests 1 and) at best) !rovides $or co'!ro'ise 1 is $airly readily gras!ed. :here not all voices are eHually heard) the neglect o$ so'e concerns 'ay be acute. And *here there is no 'utual caring bet*een !arts and *hole) there is !athology) even death. E have 'any e@!eriences o$ sustained decision1'a+ing in *hich) in 'y judg'ent)

86

collective *isdo' !revailed. E shall no* e@a'ine the !ractice that su!!orted this and consider *hether its !reconditions have general a!!lication. The !ractice in Huestion is the Gua+er !ractice o$ decision1'a+ing. The $act that it is a!!roached as Ba 'eeting $or *orshi! $or business)A in !articular) raises the Huestion o$ its 'ore general a!!licability. #et 'e antici!ate and say that) a!!roached as a 'eeting $or discerning the co''on good) the !ractice stands u! *ell in secular conte@ts. The a!!ended e@tracts $ro' a Gua+er Faith and Practice describe the !ractice. They also describe its 'ystical roots 1 the belie$ that Bthere is that o$ 7od in everyone)A and that this can be e@!erienced so that discourse can be B/!irit1led.A The essentials o$ Gua+er !ractice) translated *here necessary into secular ter's) are as $ollo*s =no s!ecial order>: . 7rounding o$ all !artici!ants in the desire $or the co''on good 2. ?nsuring that all voices are heard and listened to 6. Res!ect $or all 1 both !artici!ants and those outside =but a$$ected by> the decision 'a+ing !rocess ;. Res!ect and caring $or the agreed legiti'ate interests o$ all -. 8aintaining co''unity1loving relationshi! 1 as a !ri'ary concern 2. 7rounding o$ all !artici!ants in their o*n hu'anity and their e@!erience o$ it during the 'eeting 0. /ensitivity to interde!endence 1 o!en syste's thin+ing .. /!ea+ing out o$ the silence =the state o$ being !ersonally grounded> 9. Addressing the cler+9$acilitator not one another 0. /!ea+ing si'!ly and not re!eating *hat has already been e@!ressed . Contributing !ersonal !erce!tions and convictions 1 s!ea+ing oneAs o*n truth 1*ithout advocating that all should act on it 2. The co''it'ent to air dissent 6. <ot using e'otion to s*ay others *hile being authentic *ith the e@!ression o$ $eeling ;. (istinguishing BthreshingA 'eetings $ro' 'eetings $or decision1'a+ing -. Pre!aring $actual and analytical 'aterial $or assi'ilation !rior to 'eetings $or decision 2. The role o$ the cler+9$acilitator in o$$ering syntheses o$ the Bsense o$ the 'eetingA that are !rogressively 'odi$ied until there is unity 0. The role o$ the cler+9$acilitator in resolving di$$iculty in co'ing to unity .. (ecisions are 'ade not by 'ajority vote) nor by consensus) but by unity 9. The organisational structures that bring to bear the voices o$ 'any collectivities. En !rinci!le) #eonard 3oyAs descri!tion o$ the Gua+er 8ethod is a very good guide. &o*ever) real li$e al*ays de'ands ada!tations and !racticality. E$ underta+en $ro' a !osition o$ standing on good !rinci!les the end result is generally closer to the 'odel.

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VE##A7? "% T&? :AT?R8E##/

@ had another dreamH The eighth e!isode $ro' A+ira 4urosa*aAs $il' B(rea'sA 3()),# Colour# (8 minutes% 2irector 1kira Kurosawa% 1wards 1ward of the Eapanese 1cademy .ominated for Golden Globe# IS1%5 A young 'an $ro' the city) *ith a bac+!ac+) in *al+ing shoes) blue deni' trousers and a blue ca! *anders into an idyllic village *ith *ater'ills. There are t*o $lo*ing canals connected by a bridge and $lo*ers every*here. The village has 'any huts) each *ith a *ater'ill o$ its o*n. There is a loo+ o$ *onder'ent on the $ace o$ the young 'an. A grou! o$ children !ass. Children: 7ood dayJ Young 'an: 7ood dayJ The children cross the canalI !ic+ $lo*ers and !ut it on a stone near the bridge. The young 'an *al+s on) *ith a loo+ o$ *onder and be*ilder'ent on his $ace. There are bird songs in the bac+ground. &e reaches a hut *here an old 'an *ith a stra* hat is re!airing a *ater'ill. The old 'an has *hite beard) *hite eyebro*s) is dressed in blue *or+ing clothesI su!!osed to re'ind the vie*ers o$ 8asanobu %u+uo+a. Young 'an: 7ood dayJ The old 'an doesnAt hear. Young 'an ta+ing his ca! o$$ re!eatsI louder this ti'e. Y8: 7""( (AYJ "8: 7ood dayJ Y8: :hatAs the na'e o$ this villageF "8: (oesnAt have one. :e just call it BThe VillageA. /o'e !eo!le call it :ater'ill Village. Y8: (o all the villagers live hereF "8: They live in other !laces. Y8: There is no electricity hereF "8: (onAt need it. Peo!le get too used to conveniences. They thin+ convenience is better. They thro* out *hat is truly good. Y8: ,ut *hat about lightsF "8: :eAve got candles and linseed oil. Y8: ,ut the nightAs so dar+. 88

"8: Yes. ThatAs *hat the night is su!!osed to be. :hy should night be as bright as dayF E *ouldnAt li+e nights so bright you couldnAt see the stars. Y8: You have Paddies) but no tractors to cultivate the'F "8: (onAt need the'. :eAve got co*s and horses. Y8: :hat do you do $or $uelF "8: %ire*ood 'ostly. :e donAt $eel right) cho!!ing do*n trees) enough $all do*n by the'selves. :e cut the' u! and use the' as $ire*ood. And i$ you 'a+e charcoal $ro' the *ood just a $e* trees can give you as 'uch heat as a *hole $orest. And) co* dung 'a+es good $uel too. :e try to live the *ay 'an used to. ThatAs the natural *ay o$ li$e. Peo!le today have $orgotten that theyAre really just a !art o$ nature. They destroy nature on *hich their li$e de!ends. They 1 es!ecially scientists 1 believe they can 'a+e so'ething better. They 'ay be s'art but 'ost donAt understand the nature o$ nature. They only invent things that in the end 'a+e !eo!le unha!!y. Yet) theyAre so !roud o$ their inventions. :hat is *orse) 'ost !eo!le are) too. They vie* the' as i$ they *ere 'iracles. They *orshi! the'. They donAt +no* it) but theyAre losing nature. They donAt see that they are going to !erish. The 'ost i'!ortant things $or hu'an beings are clean air and clean *ater and the trees and grass that !roduce the'. ?very thing is being dirtied) !olluted $orever. (irty air) dirty *ater) dirtying the hearts o$ 'en. The young 'an loo+s around) thin+ing. Y8: "n 'y *ay here) E ha!!ened to see so'e children !lacing $lo*ers on a stone beside the bridge. :hyF "8: "h) ThatJ #ong ago) a stranger *ho died here) is buried there. Peo!le have $orgotten it but they still !ut $lo*ers on the grave. Y8: =#istening to the distant sounds> Es there a celebration todayF "8: =Cu!!ing his ear to listen>) <o) a $uneral. You $ind this strangeF A nice ha!!y $uneral. Et is good to *or+ hard and be than+ed. There are no te'!les or !riest here. /o) all the villagers carry the dead to the ce'etery on the hill. :e donAt li+e it *hen young adults or children die. Et is hard to celebrate such loss. Peo!le here live a natural *ay o$ li$e. /o they !ass on at a ri!e old age. The *o'an *e are burying today lived u! to 99. You 'ust e@cuse 'eI E a' going to join the !rocession. =7ets u! to go into the hut) be$ore entering the hut) he turns around> To tell the truth) she *as 'y $irst love. ,ut she bro+e 'y heart and le$t 'e $or another. =Chuc+les> &a ha ha^ The old 'an goes into the hut and co'es out *earing an orange jac+et and orange shoes and carrying bells in his right hand. Y8: ,y the *ay) ho* old are youF "8: 8eF "ne hundred !lus three. A good age to sto! living. /o'e say li$e is hard.

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ThatAs just tal+. En $act) itAs good to be alive. EtAs e@citing. The old 'an !ic+s so'e $lo*ers and holding the' in his le$t hand he 'oves to join the $uneral !rocessions) *hich has 'usicians and !eo!le dancing. &e leads the !rocession *ith ste!s and hands 'oving *ith the rhyth' o$ the 'usic. The young 'an *atches be'used. As the co$$in !asses hi') he li$ts his ca!. The young 'an is going bac+ *ith a ha!!y e@!ression on his $ace. There are sounds o$ *ater $lo*ing) birds chir!ing and *ater'ills 'oving slo*ly. &e crosses the bridge) halts) loo+s bac+ and *al+s ra!idly bac+. &e !ic+s so'e $lo*ers) !laces the' on the grave as the children had done earlier and *al+s a*ay. Cal' settles do*n on the village *ith strea's 'ur'uring and birds chir!ing. A yello* lea$ slo*ly $loats do*n.

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R?%?R?<C?/ A<( R?/"5RC?/

Cha!ter . htt!:99***.!ea+oilhasarrived.co'9 is an Endian site *ith very good lin+s. 2. ***.*ol$atthedoor.org.u+ 6. ***.theoildru'.co' Cha!ter 2 . The ,ulletin o$ Ato'ic /cientists. :**.thebulletin.org 2. Ca'!aign $or <uclear (isar'a'ent) <uclear Po*er G ` A ***.cndu+.org 3. <uclear Po*er :orld*ide: /tatus and "utloo+)http JJwww%comJreleases#sciencedailyreleaseJ+,,8J(,J,8(,+?((,?,A+%ht m 4. 8a+hijani) Arjun. Carbon9Free and .uclear9Free 1 /oadmap for I%S% 0nergy Policy# 2000) E?R? Press. 5. Ro'') 3ose!h 3. 7he Hype 1bout Hydrogen Facts and Fiction in the /ace to Sa"e the Climate# 200-) Esland Press 2. Trainer) Ted. /enewable 0nergy Cannot Sustain Consumer Society# 2000. Cha!ter 6 Et is di$$icult to get *ritings o$ Thoreau) 4ro!ot+in and Tolstoy in !rint in Endia) but they are available on the internet. All o$ 7andhiAs *or+s are available $ro' <avjeevan Publications) Ah'edabad. Cha!ter ;. . :eaver) 3. &. 7he 6orld of Physics# Vol. ) 9.0) <e* Yor+) /i'on and /chuster. 2. /chrYdinger) ?r*in. 6hat is life# 920) Ca'bridge 5niversity Press. 6. 3en+ins) Robin. 7he /oad to 1lto# 909) #ondon) Pluto Press. Cha!ter 1. Mansatta, Bharat. 'rganic /e"olution- 7he 1gricultural 7ransformation of Cuba since()),# 2008, Kolkatta, Earthcare. 2. SIS Press Release 21/01/08.Organic Cuba Without Fossil Fuels. 3. htt!:99en.*i+i!edia.org9*i+i9Cuba Cha!ter 2 ,ora) Raj'al. Bharat ki Bhashayen 1itihsik aur Bhogaulik 4i"echan =Endina langualges: &istorical and 7eogra!hical /tudy>) 99-) <e* (elhi) Vani Pra+ashan 91

Cha!ter 9 . 8any o$ the ideas discussed above originated in the garden city 'ove'ent in the early t*entieth century. En the Endian conte@t) city urban !lanning e@ercises carried out by Patric+ 7eddes in the 920s give a good historic !ers!ective. APatric+ 7eddes in EndiaA. 2000) /elect ,oo+s) 0 ) ,rigade Road Cross) ,angalore -20 00 . Price: Rs.2-091 2. 5rban 7arden: A good !lace to start *ould be to contact BThe &orticulture /ocietyA in the city. 3. /olar Coo+er: htt!:99en.*i+i!edia.org9*i+i9/olar[coo+er. This is a good starting !oint. The bo@ solar coo+er is !robably the sa$est and chea!est. 4. E'!roved Cycle Ric+sha*s: htt!:99***.itd!.org9inde@.!h!9!rojects9detail9india[ric+sha*['odern9 htt!:99***.eco1*eb.co'9editorial902--;.ht'l 5. Consu'er co1o!eratives: htt!:99en.*i+i!edia.org9*i+i9Consu'ersM[coo!erative. /ee the section on 3a!an. 6. Cuba: htt!:99***.i1sis.org.u+9"rganicCuba*ithout%ossil%uels.!h! 7. "n the net i$ you ty!e out APost carbon citiesA BrelocalisationA) Bsolar bo@ coo+ersA) Bi'!roved cycle ric+sha*A Burban gardensA) BCubaA etc. you *ill get e@tensive reading 'aterial and in$or'ation about these grou!s and resources. Cha!ter 0 %or organic $ar'ing the best boo+ to start *ould be Albert &o*ardAs BAn Agricultural Testa'entA. An abridged edition is available $ro' Per'anent 7reen) an i'!rint o$ 8anchi Pusta+a' $or Rs. 2091. 8asanubo %u+uo+aAs B"ne /tra* RevolutionA is available $ro' "ther Endia ,oo+store) 8a!usa) 7oa $or Rs. 0091 7eneral This boo+ is 'ainly 'eant $or activist education. The best source $or such 'aterial in Endia is the journal Frontier% ?stablished in 92. by late /a'ar /en) it has educated a generation o$ activists *ho *ere 'oved by the crisis in the late 20s. Today in the ;2nd year o$ its !ublication) Ti'ir ,asu) the !resent editor) is ably carrying out the 'ission in s!ite o$ great hardshi!s. Contact: Frontier# 2 ) 8ott #ane) 4ol+ata 000 0 6. Phone: 066 222- 6202 ?1'ail: $rontier*ee+lyahot'ail.co' :ebsite: ***.geocities.co'9$rontier*ee+ly /ubscri!tion: Annual: Rs. 20091 #i$e: Rs. 600091

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<"T? T" T&? R?A(?R

There are 'any individuals) grou!s and organisations engaged *ith initiatives described in the boo+. The author *ill be very ha!!y to hear about the'I be associated *ith the'I and hel! the' *ithin his li'ited ca!acities. &e can be contacted at:

?'ail: t.vijayendraag'ail.co' Cell: C9 9;900 0-26; ,log: t1vijayendra.blogs!ot.co'

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%or co!ies o$ this boo+ contact

Cerana Foundation K Hyderabad Platform /agar (hara) ?'ail: sagdharaag'ail.co' Ph: 0;0 20-6 2 2. Sangatya Sahitya Bhandar T. Vijayendra) ?'ail: t.vijayendraag'ail.co' Ph: 0.2-. 20-6;0 Cell: C9 9;900 0-26; Permanent Green 3an imprint of Manchi Pustakam5 4. /uresh) ?'ail: +osaraju.sureshag'ail.co' Ph: 0;0 200 .2-2 Cell: C9 9;;0. 0;.20 Sahitya Chayana Vina ,hatia) ?'ail: vinabhatia -ag'ail.co' Cell: C9 992.9 2290; Bal Sanskriti Kendra 8an 8ohan /har'a) ?'ail: vha!unjabag'ail.co' Ph: 0 02 -020--. Shishu Milap /. /rinivasan) ?'ail: sahaj[s'2002ayahoo.co.in Ph: 022- 26;2-69 Peples Book 7rust <yla Coelho) ?'ail: !btbg'ag'ail.co' Cell: C9 96;6; 6 96

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About the Author

T. Vijayendra = 9;61 > is a ,. Tech. =?lectronics> $ro' E.E.T. 4harag!ur = 922>. "ver the !ast $our decades) his *or+ *ith the trade union 'ove'ents) alternative journalis') libraries) boo+sho!s) !ublishing) socio K !olitical research) health) education) and environ'ent have given hi' uniHue insights into EndiaAs !eo!le and !roble's. &is *ritings directed to*ards activist education are !ublished regularly in the *ee+ly journal Frontier. &e lives on an organic $ar' in the :estern 7hats.

8ore boo+s by the author

The #osers /hall Enherit the :orld) 200.) ?nglish The Teacher and Child #abour) 2009) Telugu and ?nglish

(Back cover text)

7lobal *ar'ing and !ea+ oil have !osed the i''inent crisis in ca!italis' globally. &o*ever) 'ost !olitical activists a!!ear to be una*are o$ the e@tent) the inter connectedness and the i''ediacy o$ the crisis. There see's to be a vague but de$inite collective subconscious that all is not *ell) and that) the syste' is brea+ing do*n. ?very crisis o$ ca!italis' o!ens the !ossibility o$ $ar reaching changes. The transition through *hich) could be ordered or chaotic. Those societies that are !re!ared *ith an alternative have better chances o$ an ordered transition. Today) Cuba is best !re!ared $or such a transition. This boo+ is an atte'!t to !resentI in as si'!le and straight $or*ard a *ay as !ossible) the !resent crisis. Et also o$$ers so'e solutions that the author believes *ill hel! Endians) activists in !articular) to !re!are $or such a transition. The boo+ is divided in three !arts. The $irst educates the reader on the nature o$ the !roble') the second is a vision docu'ent $or a $ossil $uel $ree $uture and the third contains !ractical ideas $or action.

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